Synopses & Reviews
Competitive ballroom is much more than a style of dance. Rather, it is a continually evolving and increasingly global social and cultural arena of fashion, performance, art, sport, gender, and more. Ballroom explores the intersection of dance cultures, dress, and the body. the book presents the author's experiences at a range of international dance events in Europe, the US and UK, as well as featuring the views of individual dancers. Ballroom shows how dancing influences mind and body alike. For students of anthropology, dance, cultural, and performance studies, this book provides an ethnographic picture of how dancers and others live their lives both on and off the dance floor.
About the Author
Jonathan S. Marion is Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at California State University, San Marcos and Visiting Lecturer in Anthropology, University of California, San Diego.
Table of Contents
Introduction * Part 1: Setting the Stage * Chapter 1: What is Competitive Ballroom Dance? * Chapter 2: A Brief History of Ballroom * Chapter 3: Judging Dancesport * Part 2: Performing Dancesport * Chapter 4: Ballroom as Spectacle * Chapter 5: Ballroom as Art * Chapter 6: Ballroom as Sport * Part 3: Ballroom Competitions as Events * Chapter 7: Competitions as Festival and Celebration * Chapter 8: Competitions as Ritual * Part 4: Costs, Consequences, and Outcomes * Chapter 9: Costumes and Conduct * Chapter 10: Performing Gender * Chapter 11: Living the Dancesport Life * Conclusion