This book’s focus centers on the power and spirituality of the dance told through the life stories of two dance artists, Magda and Gertrud Hahn. This work additionally invites the reader to celebrate the sublime and nuanced inner and outer experiences achieved through dancing. Foremost, in these pages you will accompany two sisters, who faced many challenges throughout their lives, but were sustained and inspired by their love of dance.
The Hanova School of Modern Studies in Body Sculpture and the Classical Dance occurred throughout the twentieth century on three continents around the world and may be largely forgotten, but a record of the Hahn sisters’ lives may be seen as one of many important personal narratives to be read in order to understand the history and formation of the modern dance we enjoy today
Karen McKinlay Kurnaedy tells much more than a story of a life-long passion for dance. She reveals a deep understanding of the spiritual dimension of dance, and how the magic of movement can unite people across continents, cultures and generations in a common journey towards a higher level of human existence. Our Love Affair with Dance is a major contribution to our understanding of dance as a transcultural phenomenon.
Isabella Schwaderer, PhD
Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany
We are fortunate to glean the lessons of Magda and Gertrud Hanovas’ lives through this exquisite book by Kurnaedy, who seamlessly contextualizes their work within history, dance, and pedagogy. What I am left with is that dance not only touches the soul, but originates from the soul. In Magda’s words, “Without art, humanity has no meaningful future. We need to dance our way to inner and outer peace and tranquility.” This book is a gift to humanity in a time where we need to remember to dance our way to peace, even in turmoil.
Celeste Snowber, PhD
Performer, Poet, Professor, Simon Fraser University
Author of Embodied Prayer and Embodied Inquiry: Writing, Living and Being through the Body
Karen Kurnaedy’s extensive research into the history of two unusual and fascinating dance artists is a picture of a Vancouver that doesn’t exist anymore yet it is an influence that still permeates the life of art and of artists.
Jennifer Mascall
Artistic Director
MascallDance