Illustrated History of Dance

One can retell a book, describe a painting in conversation.. But who can convey the magic of dance with words?

How did this ancient form of creativity arise, a contemporary, according to Lucian, of the great art of Love? How has the language of dance changed over the centuries among different peoples? Are those right who consider dance a flight of the spirit, a form of communication between man and God, or is it merely the ability to virtuously control one's body?

This and many other questions are addressed in the work of the famous playwright and art critic Sergey Nikolaevich Khudekov (1837-1928). A passionate lover of dance and especially ballet, he created a brilliant four-volume work that became the main book in Russia on the history of choreographic art for many decades.

The new gift edition features the best chapters of this classic masterpiece by Sergey Khudekov, narrating the history of dance across different eras, countries, and peoples. The text of the book is adorned with full-color reproductions of paintings created by outstanding Russian and European artists.