This book considers dancer, teacher, and choreographer Mary Wigman, a leading innovator in Expressionist dance whose radical explorations of movement and dance theory are credited with expanding the scope of dance as a theatrical art. Now reissued, this book combines:

• a full account of Wigman’s life and work

• an analysis of her key ideas

• detailed discussion of her aesthetic theories, including the use of space as an "invisible partner" and the transcendent nature of performance

• a commentary on her key works, including Hexentanz and The Seven Dances of Life

• an extensive collection of practical exercises designed to provide an understanding of Wigman’s choreographic principles and her uniquely immersive approach to dance.

As a first step towards critical understanding, and as an initial exploration before going on to further, primary research, Routledge Performance Practitioners are unbeatable value for today’s student.