Objectivity, Expression, and Communication in Dance as a Performing Art

Expression is a term commonly used in relation to the arts, but it is not clear what is meant by it or whether it even makes sense. As Joseph Margolis explains,1 it is sometimes concerned with the psychology of creation, sometimes with the definition of art or the qualities distinctive of fine art, and at other times with the morality of artistic endeavor. The purpose of this article is to argue that, insofar as the performing art of dance is concerned, the term expression is best understood as denoting communication. In order to differentiate this last use of the term from the three others, it will be helpful, first, to comment on the objectivity or subjectivity of each of them and, second, to point out that dance is different in certain important respects not only from nonperforming arts but also from its sister performing arts.