The book is a collection of 17 theoretical texts on dance and performing arts. With the oldest text from 1913 and the most recent one reissued in 2022, it explores the connection of dance with life and issues that have concerned humanity both historically and in the modern era. Beyond the wealth of information, the reader will discover tools for thinking and analysis that allow an in-depth acquaintance with the art of dance. It is the first book of its kind published in Greek and aims to contribute to filling the relevant bibliographic gap. Its pages feature prominent names in the history of dance (such as Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Pina Bausch, and Yvonne Rainer), as well as contemporary figures (such as Boris Charmatz, Vera Mantero, Jérôme Bel, and Ivana Müller). The topics range from the mass dance and gymnastic spectacles of the Third Reich to the "postmodern" choreographic experiments of the 1960s and 1970s in America, and from the close connection of ballet history with the institution of marriage to the phenomenon of the cross-dressed dancer (danseuse en travesti) in French romantic ballet; from prehistoric rituals for the death of winter to the self-harm practices in Marina Abramović's performances, and from Aristotle's classical definition of dance to the radical position that dance should henceforth be defined by the concept of "presence" rather than "movement," paving the way for the possibility of a motionless dance. In the section introductions, Menti Mega takes on the role of choreographer. Aiming to bridge theory and practice, she selects and describes a contemporary dance performance that vividly illustrates the main stakes of the thematic section that follows. Conversely, in the chapter introductions, she assumes the role of the reader, allowing each text to guide her regarding the introductory information that will be useful to the reader. • Menti Mega is a choreographer and professor of dance history, improvisation, and choreography. • Steriani Tsintziloni is an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.