The Makers of Modern Dance in Germany: Rudolf Laban, Mary Wigman, Kurt Jooss

THE MAKERS OF MODERN DANCE IN GERMANY. It was a deep pleasure to read this small size book with photos and large-enough text;, wonderfully written by Isa Partsch-Bergsohn and Harold Bergsohm. When Isa directed the Dance Department; at UC Santa Barbara, I was among those who will always be grateful for the way she introduced the work of Mary Wigman via the living body.Both Wigman and Joose were students of Laban. It was Laban who provided the foundation that invited each of them to become themselves, each in their own way. I spent a full afternoon and evening reading it through and couldn't put it down. I just came online to purchase copies as my gift to two treasured colleagues. If you love to move, don't miss this book!

A balletomane who appreciates contemporary as well as modern dance, I purchased this book in order to better understand the roots of today's choreography. Laban, Wigman and Jooss are no doubt critical figures in dance history and deserve attention. That said, even as an introductory book on the subject, I would not recommend THE MAKERS OF MODERN DANCE IN GERMANY. The writing is poor, the scholarship – if you can even call it that – is superficial, and the many typos in the manuscript combine to make the reading of this book down right frustrating and at times even unpleasant. Oh, and the paperback for which I paid the ridiculous sum of $19.95 is already in numerous pieces, so cheap is the binding.If you are looking for a solid introduction to early 20th century German choreographers this is not the book for you. This is a fascinating and complex history that needs– and deserves – much better.

The book comprises a series of concise portraits of dancers and choreographers with photos and descriptions of their contribution to the development of modern dance in Germany, and also descriptions of landmark events in its history. A very useful resource book.

This book is a true treasure. I am doing research on this topic and this was a real gold mine of information. Anyone interested in modern dance history... check it out.

This slim yet concise volume should be essential reading for all dance students. Without going off at tangents this gives a good resume of how modern dance formed in Europe and the USA in the 20th century and who influenced it. The world of dance today would not be where it is without these pioneers. Of course it has moved on since their ideas were an experiment but these ideas have not been exhausted yet. Read and see if you get inspired.