ABSTRACT
Mary Wigman was the best-known ambassador of German dance during the interwar period. Following the Second World War, however, Wigman received only fleeting attention in the English-language historiography of modern dance. Acclaimed and accused, Mary Wigman emerges as a genuinely original and multi-faceted human being, one who devoted her life to dance in an era remarkable in its artistic innovation as well as its staggering tragedy. This prologue presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The first section of the book tells the story of Wigman's life and the times in which she lived, with highlights of the outstanding moments of her long career. The second section analyzes Wigman’s writings with an eye to understanding how her art reveals her philosophy. The third focuses on some of her major choreographic works. The final section outlines a series of practical exercises, with particular attention to Wigman’s pedagogy.
