Footfalls from the Land of Happiness: A Journey into the Dances of Bhutan
Karen Greenspan accompanies the reader to specific Bhutanese sacred festivals for a close-up view of the dances and rituals. This detailed universe is unpacked through interviews with dance masters, Buddhist experts, and dance practitioners from both monastic and lay communities.
The unfolding account, written in a conversational and accessible tone, flows with vivid dance prose, content-rich sidebars, and 95 color-drenched dance photographs. The descriptions of Bhutan’s scenic geography, drama-filled history, politics, religion, and perspectives on life provide layers of contextual background for an understanding of this dance-suffused culture that pioneers a policy called Gross National Happiness.
Karen Greenspan accompanies the reader to specific Bhutanese sacred festivals for a close-up view of the dances and rituals. This detailed universe is unpacked through interviews with dance masters, Buddhist experts, and dance practitioners from both monastic and lay communities.
The unfolding account, written in a conversational and accessible tone, flows with vivid dance prose, content-rich sidebars, and 95 color-drenched dance photographs. The descriptions of Bhutan’s scenic geography, drama-filled history, politics, religion, and perspectives on life provide layers of contextual background for an understanding of this dance-suffused culture that pioneers a policy called Gross National Happiness.
Karen Greenspan accompanies the reader to specific Bhutanese sacred festivals for a close-up view of the dances and rituals. This detailed universe is unpacked through interviews with dance masters, Buddhist experts, and dance practitioners from both monastic and lay communities.
The unfolding account, written in a conversational and accessible tone, flows with vivid dance prose, content-rich sidebars, and 95 color-drenched dance photographs. The descriptions of Bhutan’s scenic geography, drama-filled history, politics, religion, and perspectives on life provide layers of contextual background for an understanding of this dance-suffused culture that pioneers a policy called Gross National Happiness.
About the Author: Karen Greenspan is a New York City-based dance journalist and student of the Buddhadharma. She conducted the cultural and historic research for this book over eight years, during which she made five trips to Bhutan. Greenspan has authored numerous articles on global dance traditions and contemporary dance artists and trends. She is a frequent contributor to Natural History Magazine, Fjord Review, Dance Tabs, Ballet Review, Tricycle Magazine, Buddhistdoor Global, and Tashi Delek among other publications.
Publisher: Footfalls LLC: New York, NY, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-578-45484-9
218 pages, 95 color photographs
Includes bibliographical references and index
Genre: Non-Fiction
Target Audience:
Travelers to or anyone interested in Bhutan and the Himalayan region
Buddhists who may or may not know about the pervasive integration of dance in Himalayan Buddhist ritual
Dancers, dance scholars, and dance lovers
World culture enthusiasts
Bhutanese youth, who may have lost touch with their cultural traditions
To read more dance writing by Karen Greenspan, visit https://www.karengreenspan.com/