Popular Dance from Ballroom to Hip-Hop

Gr 6 Up—Popular dance has captured a large following recently, and students who want a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the origins and present status of various styles will find this volume useful. It takes readers from the saltarello and galliard of the Renaissance to present-day hip-hop and zumba. This is not a how-to manual; it has an encyclopedic approach as it identifies and defines the dances and touches on their cultural influences. Many of these dances, such as the turkey trot and tango and even the Renaissance's volta, scandalized society. Highlighted passages provide more detailed information on a particular topic, such as the Victorian Rules of Etiquette, one of which was that "couples never touch hands without wearing gloves." Certain personalities who were considered excellent dancers, such as Arthur Murray, Louis XIV, and George Washington, are featured. With its color photos and a bibliography that includes websites and videos, this volume would be a valuable resource for research and casual browsing.—Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA