International Dictionary of Modern Dance

In 1971 Alvin Ailey devised a solo dance piece called Cry for the dancer Judith Jamison, dedicated to “Black women everywhere”. Just before the first performance, Jamison got hold of “a voluminous white skirt”, and according to Rita Felciano, photographs of the dancer that show “her yards‐wide ruffled skirt swirling, dipping and extending her magnificent body” have helped to make the piece “among the most famous in modern dance”.

Cry is one of 30 individual works reviewed in this St James Press heavyweight, which contains around 400 articles on “all aspects of modern dance”, especially prominent individuals, companies, styles and...