{"product_id":"dance-and-the-nation-susan-a-reed-9780299231644","title":"Dance and the Nation: Performance, Ritual, and Politics in Sri Lanka [With DVD]","description":"Around the globe, dances that originate in village, temple, and court rituals have been adapted and transformed to carry secular meanings and serve new national purposes. In stage performances, dance competitions, and festivals worldwide, dance has become an emblem of ethnicity and an index of national identity. But what are the \"backstage\" stories of those dances chosen to bear such meanings, and what have been the consequences for their communities of origin? In \u003ci\u003eDance and the Nation\u003c\/i\u003e, Susan A. Reed brings to light the complexities of aesthetic politics in a multi-faceted exploration and analysis of Kandyan dance in Sri Lanka. \u003cbr\u003e As the national dance of Sri Lanka, Kandyan dance is identified with the majority Sinhala ethnic group and heavily supported by the state. Derived from the \u003ci\u003ekohomba kankariya\u003c\/i\u003e--an elaborate village ritual performed by men of the hereditary drummer caste--the dance was adopted by the state as a symbol of traditional Sinhala culture in the post-independence period. When state officials introduced the dance into the school curriculum, it was opened to individuals of all castes, and high-caste women have emerged as prominent teachers and performers. Reed's evocative account traces the history and consequences of this transition from ritual to stage, situating the dance in relation to postcolonial nationalism and ethnic politics and emphasizing the voices and perspectives of the hereditary dancers and of women performers.\u003cbr\u003e Although Kandyan dance is related to other south Asian dance forms, it is unique, distinguished by an elegant, energetic style, and lively displays of acrobatics and agility. The companion DVD includes unparalleled footage of this vibrant dance in ritual, stage, and training contexts, and features the most esteemed performers of the Kandyan region.\u003cbr\u003eSpecial Citation book award, Society for Dance History Scholars\u003cbr\u003eWinner, Outstanding Publication Award, Congress on Research in Dance\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Susan A. Reed\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 029923164X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780299231644\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Wisconsin Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/12\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.80h x 5.90w x 1.00d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/01\/2011","brand":"Susan A. Reed","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48437887303935,"sku":"9780299231644","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_48bd0369-0219-4a07-8777-31765223ea8a.jpg?v=1777167446","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/dance-and-the-nation-susan-a-reed-9780299231644","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}