The origins of dance are prehistoric, but rhythm, mimetism, balance, harmony, grace have gradually turned into a genuine art, perhaps the most liberating. The art of dance requires countless qualities: talent, musicality and musical culture, good physical shape and endurance, imagination, tenacity, sensibility, great inner equilibrium. The rehearsals, the thousands of hours of study and resumptions, the laboratory that prepares the show and the state of grace all make a potential champion out of a ballet dancer or choreographer.In the world of dance, virtuosity may acquire unbelievable proportions. So much diversified in the last decades all over the world, the world of dance created schools that brought into the limelight fascinating repertoires that conferred an exceptional status to choreographer artists.Ulanova, Plisetskaya, Nureyev, Béjart… and so many other ensembles, companies and theaters have already entered history. As cinema and TV immortalized remarkable performances of the virtuosos, dance has become an institution with immense stakes. But why are books dedicated to it rather scarce? Such a volume is an arduous task, and the restrictions related to space make it even more demanding. There is no history of Romanian dance on the record so far, be it folk, classical or modern ballet, or pantomime, although the Romanian classical and modern dance school is well-known; neither has a solid dictionary been published, although major Romanian ensembles produced soloists who became famous around the world. A repertoire of the great performances staged by the major theaters in Romania was not issued yet. However, triumphant tours abroad prove that Romanian dance has become a significant competitor today. The books that attest to this extraordinary feat are yet to be published.The PLURAL collection, generously open to top-quality culture, is attempting now a possible approach, the results of which remain to be judged. What we know beyond doubt is that the sublime field of choreography and the exquisite representatives of the Romanian dance school deserve a comprehensive book. Our apologies must be extended to those who are not to be found herein for lack of space; they are still present in repertoires, playbills, reviews and other documents that attest to their value. Instead, let us enjoy this selection of some of the most important messengers of Romanian dance, however subjective – by nature – it may be.
by Aurora Fabritius
