Bliss and Dance

Bliss and Dance explores the four major ballets of composer Sir Arthur Bliss (1891–1975) who was at the centre of British musical life for over fifty years. Drawn to finding expression for drama and human emotion, Bliss composed an impressive range of instrumental, choral, opera, film and highly acclaimed ballet scores. He collaborated with pioneering choreographers Ninette de Valois and Robert Helpmann on works for Sadler’s Wells Ballet between 1937 and 1946, and with Lew Christensen for San Francisco Ballet in 1958. In fifteen richly illustrated chapters, music and dance specialists delve into the artistic, cultural and socio-political context, creation and performance across several generations of these works, asking what they reveal about his story and the art of dance then and now. The volume of informative, engaging essays by established practitioners is edited by Jennifer Jackson, former dancer and choreographer with The Royal Ballet and Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet.