Nancy Stark Smith

Nancy Stark Smith (born 1952, Brooklyn, New York) is a dancer and founding participant in contact improvisation.^[1]

An alumna of Oberlin College, Smith initially trained as an athlete and gymnast.^[2] She studied and performed in modern dance and postmodern dance shows in the early 1970s. She danced in the first contact improvisation shows in 1972, and has since worked as a dancer, performer, instructor, author, and organizer. She has travelled the world to teach and present shows of contact and improvised dance.

She has collaborated with numerous partners including Steve Paxton, Julyen Hamilton, Karen Nelson, and, recently, the musician Mike Vargas. In 1975, she founded Contact Quarterly, an international journal of dance and improvisation, which she continues to co-edit and produce.^[3]

Footnotes

1. ^ Daniel Nagrin (August 2001). Choreography and the specific image: nineteen essays and a workbook. University of Pittsburgh Pre. p. 93. ISBN 9780822957508. http://books.google.com/books?id=2Eh4r3zOcaEC&pg=PA93. Retrieved 13 January 2011. 
2. ^ "Alumna Nancy Stark Smith Talk". Oberlin College. http://new.oberlin.edu/calendar/index.dot?id=1754189. Retrieved 2011-01-13. 
3. ^ Cheryl Pallant (July 2006). Contact improvisation: an introduction to a vitalizing dance form. McFarland. pp. 153. ISBN 9780786426478. http://books.google.com/books?id=E1Gwwt1sZ3EC&pg=PA153. Retrieved 13 January 2011. 

References

• Nancy Stark Smith & Mike Vargas - Introduction to Contact Improvisation. University of Rochester. February 24, 2006. Accessed January 13, 2011.

See also

• Steve Paxton
• contact improvisation
• dance improvisation
• Judson Dance Theater
• postmodern dance

External links

• More information about Nancy Stark Smith's work and a bio

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Name	Smith, Nancy Stark
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Date of birth	1952
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