 The American Invasion 1962 - 72.
Published: 2005 In the post World War II period, before the early 1960s, professional dance in Britain was dominated by classical ballet, while creative dance was spreading in the educational world. The two worlds had little in common, and the educationalists believed that ballet offered no role models or appropriate further training for the emerging creative dancer. However, in the early 1960s American modern dance practice began to be introduced into the UK, initially at I M Marsh College of Physical Education and Dartington College of Arts and later at the London School of Contemporary Dance and the Art of Movement Studio (later the Laban Centre). This fascinating and essential DVD, presented and narrated by Valerie Preston-Dunlop, follows the work of the pioneers of American and British modern dance in the UK, through interviews with the survivors and archive film clips, and documents the difficulties and opportunities they faced. Among those taking part are Rosemary Butcher, Robert Cohan, Gordon Curl, William Elmhirst, Janet Goodridge, David Henshaw, Jennifer Holbrook, Stuart Hopps, June Layson, Sue MacLennan, Dorothy Madden, Marion North, Lorn Primrose, Kenneth Rinker, Janet Smith, Sam Thornton, and Lorna Wilson. [Uncoded, for use world-wide on PAL compatible equipment.] |
