Dancing With the Stars

The Denver Art Museum is host to a rhythmic and fun exhibition, featuring an eclectic range of outstanding works of art, for just one more week. On view through October 2, “Rhythm & Roots” is an innovative exhibition that explores the subject of dance in American art.

Including some of the biggest names in our country’s art history, such as George Caleb Bingham, William Merritt Chase, and Arthur F. Mathews, the exhibition is sure to be a joy for all ages and aesthetic leanings. Among the artworks are representations from nearly every major art movement since the mid-19th century. About 90 paintings compose the exhibition.

George Caleb Bingham, “The Jolly Flatboatmen,” 1846, oil on canvas, 46 x 56 in.
(c) National Gallery of Art, Washington 2016

The museum reports, “The exhibition portrays dances throughout America’s diverse community, from the sacred dances of indigenous North Americans, to Irish jigs, and Spanish flamencos. About 90 paintings, photographs, sculptures, and costumes relating to American dance from 1830 to 1960 will be on view.

“The exhibition examines how dance moved to the public stage, showing new American dances, dance in the club, and artists’ historic fascination with and depiction of performers. Paintings in the exhibition feature iconic American dancers such as Isadora Duncan, Katherine Dunham, Fred Astaire, and Josephine Baker, as well as Spanish dancer Carmencita Dauset Moreno, and Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.

“Rhythm & Roots also demonstrates the interaction between visual artists, dancers, and choreographers. Works on view by artists such as Isamu Noguchi and Andy Warhol highlight collaborations with acclaimed dancers such as Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham.”

To learn more, visit the Denver Art Museum.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.