The story of modern dance is known to be one of subversion. But it's less widely acknowledged how often its schisms concerned social attitudes towards women and feminist politics. From the late 1800s to the late 1950s, a diverse group of trailblazing women changed the face of dance, and in the process, contributed to shifting attitudes about women's bodies and rights.
In Wild Grace, Sara Veale focuses predominantly on nine women, each of whom were instructive in the development of modern dance: Isadora Duncan, Louie Fuller, Maud Allan, Martha Graham, Sophie Maslow, Anna Sokolow, Pearl Primus, Katherine Dunham and Pearl Lang. These women conceived, directed and performed their own work, catalysing a powershift and transforming the visibility of female dancemakers in the 20th century.
In three 'Acts', reflecting the three main periods of modern dance, Veale looks at these female dancers' and choreographers' use of feminist movement styles, how they rejected the rigid dress code of ballet and put on gender-swapped productions; their work providing a parallel to societal developments of the time, most notably campaigns for women's rights.
Wid Grace brings to life the work of these singular women, whose irreverence for tradition both echoed and shaped cultural narratives about women's place in the world.
