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Dancing Modernism: Performing Politics with Sherril Dodds

Brent Foster

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Published in Dancing Modernism / Performing Politics Sherril Dodds

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Sherril Dodds (1935-2021) was a pioneering dancer, choreographer, and performance artist who used her body as a political weapon. Her work explored issues of feminism, race, and class, and she was a vocal advocate for social justice. Dodds's performances were often provocative and challenging, but they were also deeply moving and inspiring.

Early Life and Education

Sherril Joan Dodds was born in Toronto, Canada, on October 26, 1935. She began studying dance at a young age, and she quickly developed a passion for the art form. In 1954, she moved to New York City to study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Graham was a major influence on Dodds, and she helped to shape her unique style of movement.

Dancing Modernism / Performing Politics

by Sherril Dodds

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7149 KB
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Print length	:	54 pages

After graduating from the Graham School, Dodds began performing with various dance companies. In 1961, she co-founded the Judson Dance Theater, a collective of avant-garde dancers who were interested in experimenting with new forms of movement. The Judson Dance Theater was a hotbed of creativity, and it helped to launch the careers of many influential dancers, including Yvonne Rainer, Steve Paxton, and Trisha Brown.

Political Activism

Dodds's political activism began in the early 1960s. She was inspired by the civil rights movement and the feminist movement, and she began to use her dance performances to raise awareness of social issues. In 1965, she created a dance piece called "The War Dance," which was a protest against the Vietnam War. The dance was controversial, but it helped to establish Dodds as a leading voice in the anti-war movement.

Dodds continued to use her dance performances to explore political issues throughout her career. She created dances about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the women's liberation movement, and the AIDS crisis. Her dances were often met with resistance, but she never wavered in her commitment to using her art as a force for social change.

Legacy

Sherril Dodds was a pioneer in the field of dance. She was one of the first dancers to use her body as a political weapon, and she helped to pave the way for a new generation of politically engaged artists. Her work continues to inspire dancers and activists today.

Dodds died in New York City on December 16, 2021. She was 86 years old. She is survived by her husband, fellow dancer David Gordon, and her two children.