Danspace
Project

  • Calendar
  • Journal
  • Programs
  • Catalogues
  • Support
  • Archive
  • About
St. Mark’s Church
131 East 10th St.
New York, NY 10003
Phone (212) 674-8112
info@danspaceproject.org
Edwin Denby: on Looking – Danspace Project
  • Calendar
  • Journal
  • Programs
  • Catalogues
  • Support
  • Archive
  • About
Back
Email
Facebook
Twitter

Edwin Denby: on Looking

February 11, 2015

“I am interested at the moment in recalling to you how it looks when one sees dancing as non-professionals do, in the way you yourselves I suppose look at pictures, at buildings, at political history or at landscapes or at strangers you pass on the street. Or as you read poetry.

In other words the way you look at daily life or at art for the mere pleasure of seeing, without trying to put yourself actively in it, without meaning to do anything about it. I am talking about seeing what happens when people are dancing, seeing how they look. Watching them and appreciating the beauty they show. Appreciating the ugliness they show if that’s what you see. Seeing this is beautiful, this ugly, this is nothing as far as I can see. As long as you pay attention there is always something going on, either attractive or unattractive, but nobody can always pay attention, so sometimes there is nothing as far as you can see, because you have really had enough of seeing and quite often there is very little, but anyway you are looking at people dancing, and you are seeing them while they dance.”

—excerpt from Edwin Denby’s 1965 essay, “Dancers, Buildings and People in the Streets”

Danspace Project’s PLATFORM 2015: Dancers, Buildings and People in the Streets opens Wednesday, February 11th with A Reading for Edwin Denby.  The event is hosted by The Poetry Project and featuring an all-star line up of readers of Denby’s work.  Click for more information.

Photo © Devin Alberda.

Tags: Edwin Denby, Platform 2015
  • To Whom It May Concern: Claudia La Rocco’s intro to Platform 2015
  • Danspace Project’s ninth Platform catalogue is HERE!
St. Mark’s Church
131 East 10th St.
New York, NY 10003
Phone (212) 674-8112
info@danspaceproject.org
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Become a member
  • Donate
  • Opportunities

©2025 Danspace Project

Skip to content
Open toolbar Accessibility Tools

Accessibility Tools

  • High ContrastHigh Contrast
  • Negative ContrastNegative Contrast
  • Light BackgroundLight Background
  • Links UnderlineLinks Underline
  • Readable FontReadable Font
  • Reset Reset
  • Accessibility InfoAccessibility Info