An Incomplete History of Dance

An Incomplete History of Dance is a podcast about dance, unsurprisingly. Meghan Varner, lifelong dance nerd, and Murlin Varner, who knows only what he's picked up from parenting a lifelong dance nerd, share stories from some of the strangest, funniest, and most important moments in dance history.

06 Story of the Savoy 07/01/2021

06 Story of the Savoy We discuss the history of the Savoy Ballroom and how it relates to the early days of Lindy Hop. Topics discussed include dance history snores, ambiguous vice, and famous New York politicians. Note: this episode contains discussion of multiple aspects of racism, and while no event mentioned is overtly violent towards people we are aware that listeners may hold these traumas far closer to their hearts than we do; be aware that this episode discusses segregation and the use of police and the law to punish integrated settings. /episode/index/show/incompletedance/id/19667975

05 Vaudeville Ballet 05/31/2021

05 Vaudeville Ballet We discuss the relationship between ballet and vaudeville at the turn of the twentieth century and what it means for the rise of ballet in the United States. Topics discussed include the rise of the chorus girl, female dance producers and company owners, and Diaghilev being late to his own game. Note: contains light swearing and brief, unexplored mentions of blackface/minstrelsy. /episode/index/show/incompletedance/id/19301807

04 Sexy Dancing and You 04/30/2021

04 Sexy Dancing and You We look at the ways sexuality can be performed or rejected in dance, and why it matters to show a wide range of sexual and nonsexual relationships. Topics discussed include brain farts, stripteases, and Meghan being surprised when things are sexy. Note: contains much discussion of sex and nudity, including references to genitalia. /episode/index/show/incompletedance/id/18929318

03 Jeni LeGon 03/31/2021

03 Jeni LeGon We discuss the life of Jeni LeGon, a tap dancer and film actress, as well as tap in Hollywood and racism in the movie industry. Topics discussed include 20's era movie theatres, "integrated" clubs for soldiers, and the fact that nobody really knows who writes those listicles online about "top ten dance movies". Note: Contains light swearing and discussion of racism in dance and film by white people, and should at most be taken as a starting point in your education on the subject. /episode/index/show/incompletedance/id/18554699

02 Pointe and Propaganda 02/28/2021

02 Pointe and Propaganda We explore how ballet was used in the 50s through the 70s to support the Communist regime in China. Topics discussed include peasant women getting revenge, the militaristic quality of pointe shoes, and a pervasive lack of puns. Note: contains light swearing, brief reference to massacres, summarises stories used in propaganda. /episode/index/show/incompletedance/id/18127190

01 Riot of Spring 01/31/2021

01 Riot of Spring We explore the creation and premiere of the original Rite of Spring. Topics discussed include mispronounced French words, Jeopardy questions about the Ballets Russes, sports noises, and Eurythmics. Note: includes light swearing and brief discussion of masturbation. /episode/index/show/incompletedance/id/17758214

An Incomplete History of Dance

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