Dance's extraordinary range extends from classical ballet and baroque court spectacles to avant-garde modern dance, tap, and ethnic dancing. This comprehensive history covers the entire spectrum, vividly describing the great performers and performances of the past as well as exploring in detail the contemporary dance world.

A generous selection of illustrations completes the picture, taking the reader from the dancing of Louis XIV's court to the experimental choreography of today.

This third edition includes an introduction by Philadelphia-based dance critic James Rutter and a revised and extended final chapter, "Moving into the New Millennium."