The Dance Criticism of Arlene Croce

by Strauss, Marc Raymond

• ISBN13: 9780786423507
• ISBN10: 0786423501
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-10-30
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing

Summary

Prominent dance critic Arlene Croce wrote for The New Yorker during the 1970s, ?80s and ?90s. Through more than 200 critiques in that magazine, she confirmed a classical aesthetic framework for dance, influencing the work of numerous contemporary critics as well as the tastes of audiences. This book explores that framework and provides an interpretive analysis of the biographical, professional and historical elements that contributed to the context of Croce?s work. Topics include Croce?s predecessors in dance criticism, relevant twentieth-century contemporaries and the journalistic philosophy of The New Yorker. Providing 10 of Croce?s essays in their entirety, the author discusses the three specific elements of artistic excellence that Croce consistently used in her evaluations: sympathetic musicality, Apollonian craftsmanship and the enlivening force of tradition. Special attention is given to the literary and rhetorical qualities of Croce?s work. Finally, appendices offer a detailed subject breakdown of topics in Croce?s essays, listing (by frequency of appearance) dance companies, dancers, choreographers, dance styles, ballets, and themes.

Author Biography

Marc Raymond Strauss is a professor of theatre and dance at Southeast Missouri State University. He is also the author of Alfred Hitchcock's Silent Films (2004)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Preface	xi
Introduction	1	(10)
Historical Foundations	11	(13)
Essay: ``Joffrey Jazz''	17	(7)
Arlene Croce's Professional Heritage	24	(16)
Essay: ``Momentous''	34	(6)
The New Yorker	40	(12)
Essay: ``What You See Is What You Get''	47	(5)
The Ethics of Dance Criticism	52	(15)
Essay: ``The Mercists''	62	(5)
Theoretical Models from Literary Analysis	67	(27)
Essay: ``Think Punk''	88	(6)
Croce's Use of Rhetorical Devices	94	(11)
Essay: ``So Rare''	100	(5)
Croce-as-Audience and Croce-as-Critic	105	(19)
Essay: ``Paging Mr. Astaire''	117	(7)
Arlene Croce's Aesthetic Framework	124	(24)
Essay: ``Mark Morris Comes to Town''	144	(4)
The Visceral Vitality of Dance	148	(18)
Essay: ``Modern Love''	162	(4)
Summary and Conclusions	166	(11)
Essay: ``Institutions''	170	(7)
Appendix: Topics in Croce's Essays (in Order of Frequency)	177	(4)
Bibliography	181	(8)
Index	189