About the book
George Balanchine, one of the twentieth century's foremost choreographers, strove to make music visible through dance. In The Art of Gravity, Jay Rogoff extends this alchemy into poetry, discovering in dancing -- from visionary ballets to Lindy-hopping at a drunken party -- the secret rhythms of our imaginations and the patterns of our lives.
The poems unfold in a rich variety of forms, both traditional and experimental. Some focus on how Edgar Degas's paintings expose the artifice and artistic self-consciousness of ballet while, paradoxically, illuminating how it creates rapture. Others investigate dance's translation of physical gesture into allegorical mystery, especially in Balanchine's matchless works. Rogoff pays tribute to superb dancers who grant audiences seductive glimpses of the sublime and to all of us who find in dance a redemptive image of ourselves.
The poet reveals dance as an \"art of gravity\" in the illusory weightlessness of a \"dance that ends in mid-air,\" in the clumsiness of a Latin dance class's members \"trip- / ping over each other in the high school / gym,\" and in the exploration of ultimate Gravity -- a sonnet sequence titled \"Danses Macabres.\" Ultimately, Rogoff confronts with unflinching precision the dark consummation of all our dancing.
Editions of The Art of Gravity
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807138908
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807138922
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807138939
- PDF
- ISBN 9780807138915
Read an Excerpt
George Balanchine, one of the twentieth century's foremost choreographers, strove to make music visible through dance. In The Art of Gravity, Jay Rogoff extends this alchemy into poetry, discovering in dancing -- from visionary ballets to Lindy-hopping at a drunken party -- the secret rhythms of our imaginations and the patterns of our lives.
The poems unfold in a rich variety of forms, both traditional and experimental. Some focus on how Edgar Degas's paintings expose the artifice and artistic self-consciousness of ballet while, paradoxically, illuminating how it creates rapture. Others investigate dance's translation of physical gesture into allegorical mystery, especially in Balanchine's matchless works. Rogoff pays tribute to superb dancers who grant audiences seductive glimpses of the sublime and to all of us who find in dance a redemptive image of ourselves.
The poet reveals dance as an \"art of gravity\" in the illusory weightlessness of a \"dance that ends in mid-air,\" in the clumsiness of a Latin dance class's members \"trip- / ping over each other in the high school / gym,\" and in the exploration of ultimate Gravity -- a sonnet sequence titled \"Danses Macabres.\" Ultimately, Rogoff confronts with unflinching precision the dark consummation of all our dancing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Art of Gravity about?
George Balanchine, one of the twentieth century's foremost choreographers, strove to make music visible through dance. In The Art of Gravity, Jay Rogoff extends this alchemy into poetry, discovering in dancing -- from visionary ballets to Lindy-hopping at a drunken party -- the secret rhythms of our imaginations and the patterns of our lives.
The poems unfold in a rich variety of forms, both traditional and experimental. Some focus on how Edgar Degas's paintings expose the artifice and artistic self-consciousness of ballet while, paradoxically, illuminating how it creates rapture. Others investigate dance's translation of physical gesture into allegorical mystery, especially in Balanchine's matchless works. Rogoff pays tribute to superb dancers who grant audiences seductive glimpses of the sublime and to all of us who find in dance a redemptive image of ourselves.
The poet reveals dance as an \"art of gravity\" in the illusory weightlessness of a \"dance that ends in mid-air,\" in the clumsiness of a Latin dance class's members \"trip- / ping over each other in the high school / gym,\" and in the exploration of ultimate Gravity -- a sonnet sequence titled \"Danses Macabres.\" Ultimately, Rogoff confronts with unflinching precision the dark consummation of all our dancing.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Art of Gravity?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Poetry / Poems
Where can I read a sample of The Art of Gravity?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807138908
How long is The Art of Gravity and how many pages does it have?
The Art of Gravity has 94 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Art of Gravity?
Jay Rogoff
Who is the Publisher of the book The Art of Gravity?
LSU Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Art of Gravity is available as paperback(ISBN 9780807138908) and ebook(ISBN 9780807138922) and ebook(ISBN 9780807138939) and pdf(ISBN 9780807138915)
Where can I buy The Art of Gravity online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Art of Gravity from below
Where can I buy The Art of Gravity?