Dancing Through History

Some people travel to discover a country's architecture; others to sample its cuisine, or experience its nature. For author Lori Henry, travel is a way to discover a country's dances.



In Dancing Through History, Henry crosses Canada's vast physical and ethnic terrain to uncover how its various cultures have evolved through their dances.




Her coast-to-coast journey takes her to Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, where she witnesses the seldom seen animist dances of the islands' First Nation people. In the Arctic, Henry partakes in Inuit drum dancing, kept alive by a new generation of Nunavut youth. And in Cape Breton, she uncovers the ancient "step dance" of the once culturally oppressed Gaels of Nova Scotia.




During her travels, Henry discovers that dance helps to break down barriers and encourage cooperation between people with a history of injustice. Dance, she finds, can provide key insight into what people value most as a culture, which is often more similar than it seems. It is this kind of understanding that goes beyond our divisive histories and gives us compassion for one another.




Lori Henry is a writer and dance anthropologist based in North Vancouver, Canada. She has been dancing since she was two years old. www.LoriHenry.ca.




"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), author of The Great Canadian Bucket List




"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