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 The impetus for this collection began at the 20th Symposium of the International Council for Traditional Music Study Group on Ethnochoreology in 1998 when a major theme was traditional dance and its historical sources. In addition to new historical research, a number of often contrasting theoretical and methodological approaches to dance study was exposed at this international meeting. These differences were frequently the result of geographical circumstances and intellectual traditions in the practices of dance history and dance ethnography that cried out for more overt acknowledgment and sustained treatment. Since 1998, there has been ongoing expansion in scholarly investigation across dance practices worldwide. Such developments, I would argue, coupled with further questioning of how we conduct dance research, have made the potential of juxtaposing dance history and dance ethnography even more relevant to the future direction of dance studies. I am therefore most grateful to the editorial board of the Society of Dance History Scholars, especially to Lynn Garafola, then its chair, for recognizing the value of such a project for inclusion in their highly regarded series on dance and for offering advice. Ann Cooper Albright as the new chair has continued to champion and advance the volume’s production through helpful recommendations. Greatly appreciated too has been the generous advice and attention to detail received from the staff at the University of Wisconsin Press. My thanks also go to my own institution, De Montfort University, Leicester, for ongoing support and financial help to facilitate completion of the project. Thanks too to all those colleagues, Thomas DeFrantz in particular, who came so quickly to my assistance in providing ideas and answers when chapter commissions unfortunately could xi not be realized. I would also like to thank Trvtko Zebec for his swift and effective help in selecting and providing photographs. For a considerable period in this book’s gestation, Georgiana Gore acted as coeditor until time pressures unfortunately prevented her continuing participation. This present collection would undoubtedly be much the poorer without her insightful editorial comments, sharp intellectual input, and stimulating discussions in the earlier phases. Several of the contributors to this volume and I have benefited greatly from her suggestions. This book could never have been realized without the ongoing patience of the contributors, who have toiled tirelessly in response to sometimes lengthy and frequent editorial requests; my grateful thanks to all. An invaluable figure in the background, but whose participation has been very much “hands-on,” has been Chris Jones, whose critical editorial eye, expert advice, and unflagging commitment to the project have been faultless. Added to this, her unbelievable patience, good humor, and encouragement make her a treasured companion on any editorial journey. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to my husband for his unfailing support in listening and inspiring me to bring this volume to fruition. xii Acknowledgments      World map: Main locations cited in the text. Map by Stephen Heath. ...

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