After college, I worked at a research institute on arts education called Project Zero inspired by the philosopher of art, Nelson Goodman, and I came around to his way of thinking that the question is not, “what is art” (or dance)? But rather, when is art (or dance)? Qualities of dance (movement, rhythm) can be found in many places and parts of life, but when we give them attention as aesthetic experiences, when what Goodman calls the “density” or “repleteness” of the gesture is what’s important (rather than how high or low, for example, an arm reaches), then there is dance. (Goodman’s book is Languages of Art.)
John K. Glenn recently moved to DC from New York City where he taught contact improvisation for Movement Research.
