Life Magazine's Dance Photography Archive Comes to Book Form in 'Let's Dance'

A new publication titled 'Let's Dance' compiles over 200 images from Life magazine's vast archive, showcasing the evolution of dance from the late 1930s to the early 1970s. The book, drawn from original negatives, features mostly unseen photographs capturing dance in diverse settings, from Las Vegas and Hollywood to Paris nightclubs, Woodstock, the Western Provinces of China, and Harlem ballrooms. The images highlight influential eras, dance styles, and notable figures such as modern dance pioneer Martha Graham and ballet legends Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Life magazine, founded by Henry R. Luce in 1936, dedicated its sixth issue to dance, recognizing its cultural significance. The publication reflects the magazine's mission 'to see life; to see the world; to eyewitness great events.' The book is a testament to dance as an expression of community and culture, as captured by Life's photographers.