Dancing Through History

Some people travel to discover a country's cuisine, others for the wildlife. Lori Henry travels to learn about a culture through its traditional dances. In Canada, hundreds of ethnicities have made the country their home and Lori crosses the vast terrain to learn how some of their traditions and lifestyles have evolved through dance.pShe learned about circus dancing with the Cirque du Soleil, Inuit drum dancing and throat singing in Nunavut, step dancing in Gaelic Cape Breton, Highland dancing in New Brunswick, pow wow and hoop dancing in Wikwemikong and Winnipeg, the Métis Red River Jig in Saskatchewan, Ukrainian dancing in Saskatoon and Jasper, ceremonial dances in Haida Gwaii, and witnessed one family's history through dance from the Gitxsan nation. pThe rhythm of the country is mirrored in the way it dances and Canada's steps parallel the first people and those who immigrated here for a better life. pThese stories are about much more than dance itself.REVIEWS"Beautiful research." - Shelagh Rogers, CBC Radio One's The Next Chapter"Dancing Through History is a strong pick for travel and culture collections, highly recommended." - The Midwest Book Review"Anyone interested in dance will love this book." - Robin Esrock, Travel Writer and TV Host (Word Travels on National Geographic Channel, Travel Channel, OLN/City TV)"As its title indicates, Dancing Through History looks at how past events have shaped the traditional dances of the country's immigrant and aboriginal groups. In fact, the book reads less like a travelogue than a study of how Canada's diverse communities-in particular First Nations groups-have struggled to retain their cultures in the face of political challenges." - Carolyn Ali, Travel Editor at The Georgia Straight"If you're a dance lover, Dancing Through History is definitely worth taking a look at. It will teach you more about something you love, but it will also remind you that dance is universal. It crosses boundaries, cultures and ages, and has a way of binding people together in a way that almost nothing else can." - INDUSTRY Dance Magazine