Bliss and Dance Book

Bliss and Dance explores the four major ballets of Sir Arthur Bliss, a central figure in British music for over fifty years. Known for his expressive, dramatic style, Bliss collaborated with leading choreographers including Ninette de Valois, Robert Helpmann and Lew Christensen. Across fifteen illustrated essays, experts examine the creation, context and legacy of these works, revealing their impact on dance then and now. Edited by former Royal Ballet dancer and choreographer Jennifer Jackson. Each part focuses on a major ballet by Bliss: Checkmate (1937), a dramatic allegory of love and death; Miracle in the Gorbals (1944), a powerful social story of faith and redemption; Adam Zero (1946), a life shaped by fate and memory; and The Lady of Shalott (1958), a lyrical retelling of Tennyson’s tragic heroine. Foreward by Dame Darcey Bussell, and contributions by Sir David Bintley, Andrew Burn, Michael Byrne, Dr Susie Crow, Dr Sam Ellis, Dr Lewis Foreman, Susan Jones, Dr Anna Meadmore, Jane Pritchard and Paul Spicer Large format hardback book measuring 24 x 2 x 26.5 cm, including 200 pages Published by Unicorn May 2026