Criticism refined: An analysis of selected dance criticism of Alan M. Kriegsman

This study focuses on the critical style of Alan M. Kriegsman during his tenure as full time dance critic for the Washington Post. The study defines central issues involved in writing dance criticism and examines Kriegsman's critical style as a reflection of these issues. His use of the critical practices of description, interpretation, evaluation and contextualization is analyzed concerning his writing about five choreographers: Martha Graham, George Balanchine, Erick Hawkins, Mark Morris and Bill T. Jones. Winning the Pulitzer Prize for his criticism, Kriegsman chronicled the majority of the dance activity in the nation's capital from 1966 until his retirement in 1996, and was the full-time dance critic from 1974 on. Articles written by Kriegsman during the period of 1974--1996 were analyzed concerning the five artists mentioned above, and an interview was conducted with Alan M. Kriegsman. Finally, a picture of Kriegsman as a critic was established within the context of critical debate and trends in dance during his lengthy career.