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Collection Guide

Collection Guide

Grouping of Dancers and Musicians, c.300 BC–300 AD; Colima, Mexico, Late Formative period; ceramic; 5 3/4 x 11 5/8 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of Morton D. May 306:1978

Dancer and the Dance

Experience the joy and beauty of dance with a selection of artwork from the Museum's collection. This audio guide was produced as a result of an all-staff open call, where each staff member had the opportunity to submit unique audio guide themes. Dancer and the Dance is a contribution from Georgia Binnington, a volunteer at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

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    AUDIO GUIDE TRANSCRIPT

    The transcript for each audio track is available in expandable sections of individual object pages.

Museum Floorplan

Introduction

  • Speaker 
     
    Georgia Binnington 
    Volunteer 
    Saint Louis Art Museum 

    I’m Georgia Binnington, currently a volunteer with visitor services and a long-ago member of the Education department staff at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

    Today, when I welcome someone at the front door of the Museum, I want them to find connection, excitement, and joy in the galleries. As someone who has always loved dance, it is particularly wonderful to find dancers in so many galleries.

    Let’s explore the Dancer and the Dance. Dance might be part of a religious ritual or a sacred action, as we see in the bronze dancing Śiva. Or we might find a young ballerina poised to go on stage like the sculpture by Degas or in the photograph of the young, Black ballerina by Leroy Henderson.  We could encounter a single dramatic dancer in a brilliant costume.

    Let’s take a turn through the galleries and experience the joy and beauty of dance.

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