Robert Gottlieb's latest anthology, Reading Dance
Robert Gottlieb's latest anthology, Reading Dance, might as well be The Bible to dancers, and for other readers and appreciators, Gottlieb's anthology kindles a fire for this art form that flickers long after reading. Each essay, from the Balanchine Ballet to Sleeping Beauty, builds a momentum that ultimately rouses all readers from their seats to a standing ovation. The dancer becomes invigorated, while other readers wish to join in the dance.
Although the 1300 page read is meant for easy browsing rather than easy reading, Reading Dance does not carry its content as a reference book, dusty and rarely read. Rather, the collection of alphabetized content creates a map that directs readers to the topic of their choice with ease. Additionally, most of the essays are rather short in length and fast reads. The content also differs in structure, including essays, short stories and journey entries. Often, the essays overlap and tackle similar topics, offering the reader a range of opinions to appreciate.
It would be impossible to journey down every avenue and road laid so carefully in Gottlieb's work in one sitting. Upon every page turned, the collected text promenades gracefully through a large breadth of dance-related topics. Mikhail Baryshnikov remains one of many covered dancers found in the text. An especially interesting article details his work in Twyla Tharp's piece, Push Comes to Shove. Other noteworthy dancers covered include Isadora Duncan, considered by many the creator of modern dance, which include journal entries and a special note from friend Mary Desti. In one especially humorous article, Fred Astaire admonishes Ginger Rogers' third-wheel, feathery dress worn in Top Hot. Reading Dance also includes what Gottlieb refers to as "some uncategorizable extras," which give the anthology an extra spring in its step. Such "extras" include dance recipes from The Ballet Cookbook as well as an article on Disney choreography.
Throughout the anthology, Gottlieb's work affirms the synergy and symbiotic nature of the art and the artist in dance. As writer Susan Sontag notes in an excerpt of the text, "A great dancer is not just performing (a role) but being (a dancer)." In dance, neither can exist without the other. And when these elements combine, the overall effect creates a reach for idealism and perfection among dancers that goes beyond the striving of many other artists.
Like dance, idealism also played a hand in the execution of Reading Dance. As Gottlieb notes in his introduction, "Assembling an anthology is something like solving a puzzle." And like so many of Gottlieb's other anthologies, such as Reading Jazz and Reading Lyrics, this presents no easy task. Like all anthological work, there is a level of idealism that the author attempts to execute. But unlike many anthological works, Gottlieb's careful construction and collection found in Reading Dance creates a text that comes much closer than most to hitting that mark of perfection.