A Sorcerer's Apprentice? John Weaver's Comic Muse. (17th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Semmens, Richard
• Is Part Of: Conference proceedings. (2015)
• Page Start: 160
• Page End: 167
• Publication Date: 2015-09-17
• Subjects: Dance -- Congresses; Dance -- History and criticism -- Congresses; Dance criticism -- Congresses; 792.8
• DOI: 10.1017/cor.2015.25
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-1255

Abstract

Abstract : This paper examines John Weaver's Essay Towards an History of Dancing (London, 1712) and his History of the Mimes and Pantomimes (London, 1728). The paper will argue that comic pantomime dancing was critically central to Weaver's agenda as practitioner and writer, theorist, and historian. Modern scholarship has privileged his admittedly considerable contributions in the serious mode in ways that compromise our understanding of his important work overall.