When the Second World War broke out; ballet in Britain was only a few decades old. Few had imagined that it would establish roots in a nation long thought to be unresponsive to dance. Nevertheless; the war proved to be a boon for ballet dancers; choreographers and audiences; for the nations dancers were forced to look inward to their own identity and sources of creativity. As author Karen Eliot demonstrates in this fascinating book; instead of withering during the enforced isolation of war; ballet in Britain flourished; exhibiting a surprising heterogeneity and vibrant populism that moved ballet outside its typical elitist surroundings to be seen by uninitiated; often enthusiastic audiences. Ballet was thought to help boost audience morale; to render solace to the soul-weary and to afford entertainment and diversion to those who simply craved a few hours of distraction. Government authorities came to see that ballet could serve as a tool of propaganda; the ways it functioned within the larger public discourse of propaganda and sacrifice; and how it answered a public mood of pragmatism and idealism; are also topics in this story of the development of a national ballet identity. This narrative has several key players-- dance critics; male and female dancers; producers; audiences; and choreographers. Exploring the so-called "ballet boom" during WWII; the larger story of this book is one of how art and artists thrive during conflict; and how they respond pragmatically and creatively to privation and duress.
#3728005 in eBooks 2016-07-26 2016-07-26File Name: B01J4TA2J6
Review
