Book SummaryDon't Think, Dear, by Alice Robb

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Don't Think, Dear

The Impact of Balanchine on Power Dynamics in Ballet Institutions

This section explores George Balanchine's enduring legacy in ballet, particularly his influence on the power dynamics within ballet institutions. You'll see how his revered status contributed to hierarchical and sexist structures that often prioritized male perspectives and tolerated mistreatment.

Balanchine's Influence and Reverence in Ballet

This section delves into Balanchine's significant role in shaping American ballet and the profound reverence he commanded from his pupils and performers. You'll understand how his teachings and personal preferences contributed to a culture of obedience and submission, often at the expense of performers' well-being.

Balanchine's Early Life, Rise, and Impact on U.S. Ballet

Robb presents Balanchine's journey from reluctantly learning ballet to becoming a revolutionary choreographer. Enrolled in a ballet program when he was nine, he initially preferred music. However, he grew to love dance after experiencing performance. His early life in his home country was disrupted by war and hardship, leading him to defect to Paris that year, where he joined Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.

His innovative choreography, emphasizing speed, energy, and abstract storytelling, marked a departure from traditional ballets focused on mime and narrative. Upon arriving in NYC in 1933, Balanchine sought to establish a U.S. ballet tradition. With patron Lincoln Kirstein, he founded the SAB that year and NYCB in 1948. He trained performers in his unique style, demanding athleticism and spontaneity. His preference for lean, long-limbed dancers, whom he often called his "muses," became synonymous with the "Balanchine model."

Balanchine had a broad impact beyond the stage, integrating ballet into mainstream U.S. culture. Intellectuals like Susan Sontag and Irving Howe debated his work, and typical New Yorkers queued for his premieres. His innovative style and charismatic personality shaped the American ballet aesthetic.

Context

• The transition from reluctance to passion in an art form often involves personal growth and a deeper understanding of the medium's expressive potential.
• Balanchine's move to Paris was part of a broader trend of artists leaving Russia due to political instability and seeking creative freedom and opportunities in Western Europe.
• His approach was influenced by modernist trends in art and music, which emphasized form, abstraction, and breaking away from conventional structures.
• Balanchine's arrival coincided with a period of cultural growth in the U.S., where there was a burgeoning interest in European art forms, including ballet, which he capitalized on.
• Lincoln Kirstein was a prominent cultural figure and arts patron who played a crucial role in bringing Balanchine to the United States. He envisioned creating an American ballet tradition and believed Balanchine's innovative style was key to achieving this goal.
• His style was innovative for its time, focusing on the movement itself rather than a narrative, which challenged traditional perceptions of ballet and attracted intellectual debate about the nature of art and performance.
• His ability to inspire and mentor dancers and choreographers helped cultivate a new generation of artists who carried forward his innovative ideas and techniques.

George Balanchine's Demanding and Controlling Treatment of His Dancers

This section examines Balanchine's demanding and often controlling treatment of the dancers he worked with, particularly women. Robb sheds light on how his power and influence allowed him to impose unrealistic physical standards and engage in behaviors that would now be deemed inappropriate and even abusive.

Balanchine drove his performers to physical extremes, prioritizing speed and surprise over their well-being. His dance routines demanded unconventional movements that often strained dancers' knees and shortened their careers. Beyond physical demands, Balanchine exerted control over their personal lives, dictating their relationships and weight. He favored very thin dancers, often resorting to public humiliation and cruel comments to pressure them into shedding pounds. He even selected signature perfumes for his favored dancers, a seemingly benign gesture that highlighted his desire for control.

The expectation was for his performers to put their needs aside and prioritize his goals. This was particularly evident in his relationship with Suzanne Farrell, whom he favored both professionally and romantically. While some view their relationship as a tragic romance, Robb doesn't shy away from labeling Balanchine's actions as harassment. His fixation on Farrell and his retaliation when she married another dancer highlight the power imbalance inherent in their relationship. His control extended beyond Farrell, as he attempted to dictate the romantic relationships of other company members, disapproving of men within the company dating his "women."

Context

• The physical demands of Balanchine's choreography often led to injuries. His emphasis on speed and intricate footwork could exacerbate stress on the body, particularly affecting joints and muscles, which were not always adequately addressed by the medical knowledge and practices of the time.
• Balanchine's preferences influenced broader ballet aesthetics, promoting a trend towards extremely thin bodies that persists in some areas of the dance world today.
• The pressure to maintain a very low weight could lead to serious health issues for dancers, including eating disorders, weakened bones, and other long-term physical and mental health problems.
• In artistic settings, such gestures can be symbolic, reflecting the choreographer's vision not just for the performance but for the dancer's entire presentation, both on and off stage.
• The term "harassment" in this context refers to the misuse of power and influence...

Don't Think, Dear Summary Ballet's Role for Young Female Dancers: Escape, Control, Self-Definition, Dehumanization, and Objectification

This section delves into the complex and often contradictory experiences of young girls in the realm of ballet. Robb explores how, even though ballet provides a feeling of freedom and self-governance, it can also cause intense pressure and contribute to dehumanizing objectification.

Using Ballet to Escape Tumult and Trauma

Robb discusses how ballet may provide a much-needed refuge for young girls facing personal turmoil or trauma. The rigid structure and demanding nature of ballet can paradoxically offer both escape and a sense of control in otherwise chaotic lives.

Ballet Offering Structure, Routine, and Purpose for Kids

Robb explores the comforting aspects of the strict structure and routine in ballet, particularly for young girls facing uncertainty or chaos in their personal lives. She highlights how the demanding physicality and predictable nature of this art form can provide structure and purpose.

When describing Misty Copeland's childhood, Robb portrays ballet as an escape from poverty and an abusive home environment. The predictable nature and disciplined environment of ballet provided stability and control in a life marked by constant upheaval. Similarly,...

Don't Think, Dear Summary Repressing Women's Desires, Prioritizing External Expectations, and Fetishizing Dancer Suffering

This section examines how ballet's demanding environment affects female dancers' personal lives and relationships. Robb investigates how the suppression of sexuality, the prioritization of external expectations, and the fetishization of the suffering of dancers contribute to unhealthy patterns and psychological scars.

Dancers' Challenges in Pursuing Goals and Being Feminine

Robb explores the challenges encountered by women in dance in balancing their career ambitions with societal expectations of femininity. The author argues that the emphasis on physical perfection and obedience within dance, coupled with societal pressures, can lead to a suppression of desires and a distorted self-image.

Suppressing Sexuality and Desire For Art

Robb examines the suppression of sexuality and romantic desire among young female dancers, arguing that ballet's culture often encourages the prioritization of artistic ambition over personal fulfillment. She uses several anecdotes to demonstrate how these ingrained attitudes can lead to unhealthy relationship patterns.

Robb argues that the dance community actively discourages romantic relationships, viewing them as a distraction from...