Description

This extensive biography shines a sharp, analytical light on Joan Denise Moriarty, a monumental yet controversial figure who single-handedly championed the development of national classical ballet infrastructure in mid-to-late 20th-century Ireland. The book explores her founding of the Irish National Ballet, her distinct integration of traditional Irish step dance elements into classical choreography, and her relentless fights for state arts funding. Drawing on private correspondence, company records, and interviews with former dancers, the narrative handles both her immense creative vision and the deeply private, protective nature of her personal life, serving as an essential reference work for scholars of Irish theater history and dance pedagogy.