Dancing the New World: Aztecs, Spaniards, and the Choreography of Conquest (Latin American and Caribbean Arts and Culture Publication Initiative, Mellon Foundation)

Winner, Oscar G. Brockett Book Prize in Dance Research, 2014 Honorable Mention, Sally Banes Publication Prize, American Society for Theatre Research, 2014 de la Torre Bueno® Special Citation, Society of Dance History Scholars, 2013 From Christopher Columbus to "first anthropologist" Friar Bernardino de Sahagún, fifteenth- and sixteenth-century explorers, conquistadors, clerics, scientists, and travelers wrote about the "Indian" dances they encountered throughout the New World. This was especially true of Spanish missionaries who intensively studied and documented native dances in an attempt to identify and eradicate the "idolatrous" behaviors of the Aztec, the largest indigenous empire in Mesoamerica at the time of its European discovery. Dancing the New World traces the transformation of the Aztec empire into a Spanish colony through written and visual representations of dance in colonial discourse—the vast constellation of chronicles, histories, letters, and travel books by Europeans in and about the New World. Scolieri analyzes how the chroniclers used the Indian dancing body to represent their own experiences of wonder and terror in the New World, as well as to justify, lament, and/or deny their role in its political, spiritual, and physical conquest. He also reveals that Spaniards and Aztecs shared an understanding that dance played an important role in the formation, maintenance, and representation of imperial power, and describes how Spaniards compelled Indians to perform dances that dramatized their own conquest, thereby transforming them into colonial subjects. Scolieri's pathfinding analysis of the vast colonial "dance archive" conclusively demonstrates that dance played a crucial role in one of the defining moments in modern history—the European colonization of the Americas. From Christopher Columbus To First Anthropologist Friar Bernardino De Sahagún, Fifteenth- And Sixteenth-century Explorers, Conquistadors, Clerics, Scientists, And Travelers Wrote About The Indian Dances They Encountered Throughout The New World. This Was Especially True Of Spanish Missionaries Who Intensively Studied And Documented Native Dances In An Attempt To Identify And Eradicate The Idolatrous Behaviors Of The Aztec, The Largest Indigenous Empire In Mesoamerica At The Time Of Its European Discovery. Dancing The New World Traces The Transformation Of The Aztec Empire Into A Spanish Colony Through Written And Visual Representations Of Dance In Colonial Discourse--the Vast Constellation Of Chronicles, Histories, Letters, And Travel Books By Europeans In And About The New World. Scolieri Analyzes How The Chroniclers Used The Indian Dancing Body To Represent Their Own Experiences Of Wonder And Terror In The New World, As Well As To Justify, Lament, And/or Deny Their Role In Its Political, Spiritual, And Physical Conquest. He Also Reveals That Spaniards And Aztecs Shared An Understanding That Dance Played An Important Role In The Formation, Maintenance, And Representation Of Imperial Power, And Describes How Spaniards Compelled Indians To Perform Dances That Dramatized Their Own Conquest, Thereby Transforming Them Into Colonial Subjects. Scolieri's Pathfinding Analysis Of The Vast Colonial Dance Archive Conclusively Demonstrates That Dance Played A Crucial Role In One Of The Defining Moments In Modern History--the European Colonization Of The Americas.--publisher's Website. On The Areíto: Discovering Dance In The New World -- Unfaithful Imitation: Friar Toribio De Benavente Motolinía And The Counterfeit Histories Of Dance -- The Sacrifices Of Representation: Dance In The Writings Of Friar Bernardino De Sahagún -- Dances Of Death: The Massacre At The Festival Of Toxcatl -- The Mystery Of Movement: Dancing In Colonial New Spain -- Conclusion. Paul A. Scolieri. Based On The Author's Thesis (doctoral)--new York University, 2003. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Winner, Oscar G. Brockett Book Prize in Dance Research,2014 Honorable Mention, Sally Banes Publication Prize, AmericanSociety for Theatre Research, 2014 de la Torre Bueno® SpecialCitation, Society of Dance History Scholars, 2013

From Christopher Columbus to "first anthropologist" FriarBernardino de Sahagún, fifteenth- and sixteenth-century explorers,conquistadors, clerics, scientists, and travelers wrote about the"Indian" dances they encountered throughout the New World. This wasespecially true of Spanish missionaries who intensively studied anddocumented native dances in an attempt to identify and eradicatethe "idolatrous" behaviors of the Aztec, the largest indigenousempire in Mesoamerica at the time of its European discovery.

Dancing the New World traces the transformation of theAztec empire into a Spanish colony through written and visualrepresentations of dance in colonial discourse-the vastconstellation of chronicles, histories, letters, and travel booksby Europeans in and about the New World. Scolieri analyzes how thechroniclers used the Indian dancing body to represent their ownexperiences of wonder and terror in the New World, as well as tojustify, lament, and/or deny their role in its political,spiritual, and physical conquest. He also reveals that Spaniardsand Aztecs shared an understanding that dance played an importantrole in the formation, maintenance, and representation of imperialpower, and describes how Spaniards compelled Indians to performdances that dramatized their own conquest, thereby transformingthem into colonial subjects. Scolieri's pathfinding analysis of thevast colonial "dance archive" conclusively demonstrates that danceplayed a crucial role in one of the defining moments in modernhistory-the European colonization of the Americas.

Analyzing the extensive accounts of Aztec dance practices in colonial-era European chronicles, histories, letters, and travel books, this volume reveals the surprising and crucial role that dance played in the European conquest and colonization of the Americas