"The breadth and depth of the editors' experiences is evident. . . . The common thread is the premise that solo dance artists can and have shaped cultural attitudes. . . . the collection addresses substantive questions and illuminates the ongoing significance of solo dance as an aspect of modern dance history."--"Choice" ""On Stage Alone" is broad in its scope...a welcome addition to dance literature."--"Michelle Potter on Dancing" "Diverse in both the artists considered and research approaches utilized, this thoughtful and engaging collection of essays enriches the growing body of dance scholarship by introducing us to the works of an array of daring and creative solo dance artists."--Linda Caruso Haviland, Bryn Mawr College "Providing a broad examination of the solo that spans the twentieth century, the expertly curated essays in this volume bring to light specific soloists' work while also reflecting larger trends in concert dance and interrogating issues of aesthetics, performativity, gender, race, and nation. It is a welcome addition to the field."--Hannah Kosstrin, Reed College

A groundbreaking choreographer, lighting designer, composer, and costumer, Alwin Nikolais (1910-1993) is recognized as one of the twentieth century's most innovative artists. Incorporating novel technological and performance tactics, he invented a total language of non-literal dance theater that attracted audiences worldwide for over forty years. The Returns of Alwin Nikolais is the first book devoted to a critical analysis of Nikolais's work, and it provides a broad and important overview of his artistic and philosophical trajectory. The volume brings together essays by scholars of dance history, theater studies, music, and art history, and includes primary materials such as reviews, diary excerpts, and photographs. It is a valuable resource for teachers and students of art and culture.
Contributors: PHILIP AUSLANDER, HERBERT BLAU, JANA FEINMAN, MARK FRANKO, BOB GILMORE, CLAUDIA GITELMAN, YVONNE HARDT, REBEKAH KOWAL, RANDY MARTIN, NAIMA PREVOTS, AND MARCIA SIEGEL.

Soloists ignited the modern dance movement and have been a source of its constant renewal. Pioneering dancers such as Loie Fuller, Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, and Maud Allan embodied the abstraction and individuality of the larger modernist movement while making astounding contributions to their art. Nevertheless, solo dancers have received far less attention in the literature than have performers and choreographers associated with large companies. In On Stage Alone, editors Claudia Gitelman and Barbara Palfy take an international approach to the solo dance performance. The essays in this standout volume broaden the dance canon by bringing to light modern dance soloists from Europe, Asia, and the Americas who have shaped significant, sustained careers by performing full programs of their own choreography. Featuring in-depth examinations of the work of artists such as Michio Ito, Daniel Nagrin, Ann Carlson, and many others, On Stage Alone reveals the many contributions made by daring solo dancers from the dawn of the twentieth century through today. In doing so, it explores many important statements these soloists made regarding topics such as freedom, personal space, individuality, and gender in the modern era.