Dance Scholars: Dance Criticism and Aesthetics

Psychoanalytic criticism is not typically used in dance criticism, as it is more commonly applied to literature and other forms of art.

Edwin Denby was a prominent dance critic for the New York Herald Tribune and is known for his insightful and poetic writing about dance.

Formalist dance criticism focuses on the technical aspects of the dance, such as the dancer's skill, the choreography, and the overall structure of the piece.

Rudolf Laban is credited with developing the concept of kinaesthetic empathy, which refers to the ability of the audience to feel the dancer's movements as if they were their own.

Structuralist dance criticism views dance as a form of communication that conveys meaning through its structure, symbols, and movement patterns.

John Martin is widely regarded as the father of American dance criticism due to his influential writings and contributions to the field.

Historical dance criticism seeks to understand the dance in relation to its historical period, cultural influences, and social context.

Susan Leigh Foster is a dance scholar who has extensively explored the concept of embodied knowledge, which refers to the ways in which knowledge is stored and expressed through the body.

Aesthetic dance criticism evaluates the dance based on its overall beauty, artistry, and the emotional impact it creates on the audience.

Sally Banes is a dance scholar who has extensively written about postmodern dance, a movement that emerged in the mid-20th century and challenged traditional notions of dance.

Dance scholars play a multifaceted role in shaping the field of dance criticism by providing historical context, developing new methodologies, and engaging in critical dialogue with dance artists and critics.

Susan Leigh Foster is a dance scholar who has explored the concept of dance as text, arguing that dance can be analyzed and interpreted like a literary text.

Psychoanalytic dance criticism seeks to understand the dance through the lens of psychoanalysis, focusing on the choreographer's unconscious motivations and the psychological dynamics at play in the dance.

Richard Schechner is a theatre scholar who has also written extensively about dance, particularly on the concept of theatricality in dance.

Cultural dance criticism examines the dance in relation to its cultural and social context, exploring how it reflects and shapes cultural values, beliefs, and practices.