Dance Masters is a lively ensemble of conversations with seven celebrated dancers and choreographers. In these intimate interviews, dance critic Janet Lynn Roseman probes the heart of dance: * The creative process * The role of dream and rituals * The interplay between dancer and audience * The spiritual aspects of performance These dance masters offer rare insights into the internal world of the artist as they reveal their philosophies on dance training, discuss their mentors, and speak candidly about the artistic process of dance-making and how it actually feels to dance. Dance critic Roseman (Beach Blanket Babylon) confesses to having been drawn to dance for its ability to lift her spirits. To learn more about its transforming power, she undertook this labor of love, a series of interviews with some of the country's leading choreographers. Although one could always quibble about her choice of dance masters, Roseman has taken care to represent a variety of dance forms (ballet, modern dance, historical representations, and re-creations). Those interviewed are ballet-inspired Edward Villella, Michael Smuin, and Alonzo King; modern dance makers Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris, and Danny Grossman; and Baroque dance master Catherine Turocy. Roseman's questions reveal a deep understanding of and sensitivity to dance and often prompt revealing responses about the creative process, the future of dance, and the feelings of movement. Great art has an element of magic that is not easily defined, but Roseman's interviews will certainly add to the understanding of what goes into making and communicating movement. Recommended for public libraries and academic libraries that support dance programs. Joan Stahl, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. "Roseman's questions reveal a deep understanding of and sensitivity to dance and often prompt revealing responses about the creative process, the future of dance, and the feelings of movement. Great art has an element of magic that is not easily defined, but Roseman's interviews will certainly add to the understanding of what goes into making and communicating movement." -- Library Journal "In these sparkling exchanges with seven leading figures from the world of dance, Janet Lynn Roseman gets to the heart of her subject--how a dancer or choreographer envisions creation and performance, the person's dreams and rituals, fears and disappointments." -- Inside Borders "... Dance Masters provides many important insights." -- Reviewer's Bookwatch "...Roseman is to be commended for her choice of these personalities Their eloquence with words, combined with her questions and comments, have created a very moving and passionate look at how dancers and the dance are one." -- Dancer "...dance critic Roseman set out to talk to dancers and choreographers about their lives, creative process philosophies, careers, and "the spiritual aspects of dance." The result is a set of seven extraordinarily well formed and elightening conversations..." -- Donna Seaman, Choice "...well worth it for dance lovers. Roseman is an interviewer well worthy of the masters she presents to us." -- Rainboreviews Dance Masters is a lively ensemble of conversations with seven celebrated dancers and choreographers. In these intimate interviews, dance critic Janet Lynn Roseman probes the heart of dance: the creative process, the role of dreams and rituals, the interplay between dancer and audience, and the spiritual aspects of performance. These dance masters offer rare insights into the internal world of the artist as they reveal their philosophies on dance training, discuss their mentors, and speak candidly about how it actually feels to dance. Janet Lynn Roseman (San Francisco, CA) is a dance critic and the author of three books. Her Beach Blanket Babylon (Chronicle) was nominated by Amazon.com as best theatrical book of 1997.