Written by Vladimir Angelov, and with 505 colour illustrations in its 580 pages, this is a truly handsome coffee table book; and so much more. It opens on the earliest forms of organised movement, then investigates the myriad forms of dance before coming up to date in the last chapter where advice is offered on the business of being a choreographer and getting that work on stage. In between, it covers just about everything you want to know, explore and understand about the elusive art of choreography.
You, the Choreographer: Creating and Crafting Dance is a book to accompany you, the choreographer, on a creative lifetime. Systematically organised, it’s a book for good days and also for the bad days, to keep on hand to dip into when inspiration doesn’t sync with the company’s rehearsal schedule.
The design of the book is excellent. The photographs are a delight, varied and well-chosen while diagrams, charts and plans make their point succinctly. It’s a large book at over 550 pages but the content is remarkably easy to access and digest with extensive references and bibliography. There are helpful tips and suggestions all along the way.
For those who like a more structured approach, each chapter finishes with assignments and exercises to work through, structured under SMART: Systematic Methods for Artistic Research Training. This complex and intriguing system is set out in some detail in the introduction. While this may sound too prescriptive, elements of experimenting and play are always on hand and the organisation of the book allows you the freedom to create your own path and to work at your own pace. One of Angelov’s useful mantras is, “Your passage in choreographing is a marathon and not a sprint!”
Nearly a third of the book covers the historical context. It opens in the mists of time piecing together how ritual dance might have developed while linking it to contemporary choreographers like New Zealander, Neil Ieremia who relates his work to his Samoan heritage. Successive chapters grow in length as the evidence increases bringing us into the modern times where the focus is on the ground breakers, the choreographers who broke the rules.
History in all its forms is contentious and choosing which choreographers to prioritise will always be open to dispute. These pages are packed with the great and the good who helped dance evolve and it is a fascinating read. The conscious desire to search far and wide results in a comprehensive list and an extremely well-considered chronology as the field of dance study expanded rapidly from the middle of the last century. Look out for the fascinating quotes.
The choreographer’s instrument is the human body, a magnificent mechanism, and in ‘Book ll: Mind and Muscle,’ the focus is on the physical form and the intellect that powers it. ‘The thinking body and the dancing mind’ sums it up neatly before unpacking, exploring and celebrating the endless possibilities. The mind is the focus here and the choreographers’ charmed space between child and adult that keeps the joy of creative play vibrantly alive. There is a wealth of information and suggestions here. I particularly liked, “The choreographers’ greatest skill is feeling comfortable in a zone of discomfort.”
The creativity of the mind is explored at great length in the middle section of the book which analyses some of the most elusive and problematic areas of the choreographers’ working practice. The mystery is celebrated while the complexities are unpacked in a practical way offering sources of inspiration and daily practice to keep your creative muscles as toned as your physical ones. Theories also come from sources outside of dance and the reference lists are well worth checking out. As Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
Chapter 13, ‘Who I Am,’ gets to the heart of the matter. We live in an age of introspection and self-awareness, and I imagine this discussion would potentially be of great interest to young choreographers. The chapter is boosted with seven portraits of prominent 21st-century choreographers. They are a diverse selection, and each reveals the different way in which they express their individuality.
The subject matter starts to shift from creating dance to crafting dance. The process and generating of material are investigated and the adventure of improvisation is explored. Clearing the mind of debris and unwanted thoughts to allow a free flow of nothingness is all good stuff and there are many suggestions on how to get there. This is also the chapter where Merce Cunningham finds his place, in the company of other notables. It makes inspirational reading.
Music and dance are seemingly inseparable partners and music gets several chapters of important discussion while silence and soundscapes are not forgotten.
The final chapters of the book look at the very practical but essential issues of getting the dance work into performance-ready shape. What are you going to name your new-born creation? How will you sell it to the public? Design is brought in although it is acknowledged that the costuming and props may also be a necessary early consideration. Choice of colour and a further essential, the lighting, are briefly discussed with several good books mentioned in the bibliography.
The book closes on managing your choreographic career. I bet there are many mature choreographers who would have liked more of this sort of advice when they started out. Choreography is a complex business conducted in a competitive environment. Angelov’s book is encyclopaedic in its knowledge and an indispensable guide for choreographers and those fascinated by the creation of dance.
You, the Choreographer: Creating and Crafting Dance
Author: Vladimir Angelov
580 pages (hardback, paperback and ebook)
Publisher: Routledge
Published: August 30, 2023
ISBN (hardback): 978-0-367-44445-7
ISBN (paperback): 978-0-367-44446-4
ISBN (e-book): 978-1-003-00976-4
Published price: paperback and e-book, £53.99; hardback, £112.50
The best option to directly purchase the book is from the Routledge’s website. When checking out, using code YTC24 will give 25% off and free shipping worldwide.