Gestures of Genius: Women, Dance and the Body

Gestures of Genius is for all women seeking understanding of the history in their own bodies, an engaging, uplifting, and accessible book about recapturing freedom of movement. Rachel Vigier, dance and social theorist, begins with a brief overview of the history of women’s dance and the relationship between society and sanctions on women’s movement, then focuses on the histories of famous women with an important relationship to dance (including Isadora Duncan and Zelda Fitzgerald), and on contemporary women dancers from a variety of communities, whose stories of perseverance and dedication to the art of movement are enlightening, freeing, and joyful.

Included are twenty-four black and white photographs arranged as a picture essay on women’s dance through the ages.