Speaking of Dance
Dolling up the Dancing Body: representations of femininity in dance
Speaker: Colleen T. Dunagan, Ph.D.
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011, 2:00 pm
Speaking of Dance is an ongoing series of FREE lectures given by scholars in the dance field. Radical Reasoning, Outstanding Oration, and Vivifying Visuals characterize this series designed to illuminate topics in today's dance world. Each lecture will be followed by a Question/Answer period. Refreshments served.
The presentation of the female dancing body as a form of entertainment and spectacle is a long-standing tradition within theater that dates back to 19th-century burlesque. Since early vaudeville, dance has played an important role in defining femininity. As American cinema developed it drew upon theatrical forms for its content. Today, dance's role in creating femininity can be seen in popular movies (Burlesque), music videos (Lady Marmalade), and commercials (Pepsi- Britney Spears).
