William Forsythe and the Practice of Choreography ─ It Starts from Any Point

William Forsythe’s reinvigoration of classical ballet during his 20-year tenure at the Ballett Frankfurt saw him lauded as one of the greatest choreographers of the postwar era. His current work with The Forsythe Company has gone even further to challenge and investigate fundamental assumptions about choreography itself.

William Forsythe and the Practice of Choreography presents a diverse range of critical writings on his work, with illuminating analysis of his practice from an interdisciplinary perspective. The book also contains insightful working testaments from Forsythe’s collaborators, as well as a contribution from the choreographer himself.

With essays covering all aspects of Forsythe’s past and current work, readers are provided with an unparalleled view into the creative world of this visionary artist, as well as a comprehensive resource for students, scholars, and practitioners of ballet and contemporary dance today.

Steven Spier is Professor and Head of the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Ulster. Previously he was founding president and vice-chancellor of the HafenCity University Hamburg. He is an authority on the work of William Forsythe as well as on contemporary European, especially Swiss, architecture.

Introduction The Practice of Choreography Steven Spier 1. Watching the Frankfurt Ballet, 1988-2004 Roslyn Sulcas 2. Of Monsters and Puppets: After the "Robert Scott Complex" Gerald Siegmund 3. Splintered Encounters: The Critical Reception to William Forsythe in the United States, 1979-1989 Mark Franko 4. Njinsky’s Heir: A Classical Company Leads Modern Dance Senta Driver 5. Timbral Architectures, Aurality’s Force: Sound and Music Chris Salter 6. Dancing Music: The Intermodality of The Forsythe Company. An Auditory Turn Freya Vass-Rhee 7. Choreographic Objects William Forsythe 8. Decreation: Fragmentation and Continuity Dana Caspersen 9. Inside the Knot that Two Bodies Make Steven Spier 10. Aberrations of Gravity Heidi Gilpin 11. The Space of Memory: The Ballets Gerald Siegmund 12. Choreographic Thinking and Amateur Bodies Steven Spier