Oxford Handbook on Improvisation in Dance

Discussing improvisatory activities in dance, this handbook attests to the presence of improvisation in many forms of dance and to the ways improvisation has been developed and employed for far-reaching purposes. The handbook recognizes that improvisation has been a long-standing and central approach within the choreographic process for many dance makers, while for others it is a performance form in its own right. It is also a key feature, though often implicit and overlooked, of most social dance forms and is widely used within therapeutic, educational, and other applied contexts. Accordingly, throughout the handbook examples of improvised dancing from tango to therapy and from contact to ballet are discussed. This breadth has been important in gathering this collection, and it makes evident the presence of improvisation in a wide range of contexts—be it in theatres, community halls, or hospitals. This very breadth expands our vision, such that the nature and significance of the improvisatory can be better understood.