Carmen, a Gypsy Geography

"Exploring the story and dance of Carmen the opera and Carmen the woman, Bennahum—a dance historian, choreographer, and performance theorist—offers a readable historiographic examination of, as she writes in her preface, 'how the ancient Middle East, Islamic Spain, and nineteenth-century France viewed and treated women.'...Only someone with Bennahum's background could have written this book in such a way that it would appeal to dancers, historians, opera lovers, and those interested in Roma history, feminism, and issues of identity. Highly recommended (for) all readers."—K. Lynass, Choice

"[Bennahum] is first and foremost a dance historian, but you wouldn't necessarily realize it, as she dissects her subject from the perspectives of mythography, ethnography, history, and geographyYou are not likely to find a more punctilious consideration of the historical backdrop to Bizet's opera."—James M. Keller, Santa Fe New Mexican

"Bennahum's informed and intelligent presentation of dance practices in many settings and her ability to look back through textual traces to discover their sources in material culture are excellent. To read these traces in this way requires the eye and heart of a dancer."—Evlyn Gould, Dance Chronicle

"Exploring the story and dance of Carmen the opera and Carmen the woman, Bennahum—a dance historian, choreographer, and performance theorist—offers a readable historiographic examination of, as she writes in her preface, 'how the ancient Middle East, Islamic Spain, and nineteenth-century France viewed and treated women.'Only someone with Bennahum's background could have written this book in such a way that it would appeal to dancers, historians, opera lovers, and those interested in Roma history, feminism, and issues of identity. Highly recommended (for) all readers."—K. Lynass, Choice

"This text, whole or in parts, is ideal for dance history, performance theory, or world performance courses. A strong read for the graduate learning to meld theory with practice, Bennahum's text fills a gap in our scholarship about gypsy culture and performance. She demonstrates a rigorous and far-reaching scope in her research that is inspiring for our field."—Christina Soriano, Journal of Dance Education

"Carmen: A Gypsy Geography is a significant study of the intersections between historiography, musicology, art history, literary theory, religious, cultural and dance studies, consolidated in the moving figure of Carmen, the Gypsy dancer."—Michelle Heffner Hayes, author of Flamenco: Conflicting Histories of the Dance

"By skillfully weaving diverse strands of research into a sophisticated narrative, Bennahum calls the reader to consider the intersections of Gypsy history and identity through the character of Carmen.""—Sharon Friedler, professor and director of dance, Swarthmore College

"Carmen: A Gypsy Geography is a significant study of the intersections between historiography, musicology, art history, literary theory, religious, cultural and dance studies, consolidated in the moving figure of Carmen, the Gypsy dancer."—Michelle Heffner Hayes, author of Flamenco: Conflicting Histories of the Dance