Townsend Talks – Code Breaking: The Passion and Politics of Baroque Dance
Join us and step into the 18th century when dance was a metaphor for power. Celia Ipiotis, the creator, producer, and host of the award-winning PBS series, EYE ON DANCE, offers a window into the passions and political maneuvering that existed within the social tradition of Baroque dance. Along with authentic reproductions of Baroque dance on video, Ipiotis decodes hand fan language, rules of etiquette, and political favor that were communicated through dance in the 1700s.
Honored with a Lifetime Achievement award in 2024, Ipiotis began her professional career as a dancer, choreographer, director, and videographer. She has served on several university faculties including Hunter, Rutgers, and Harvard, and continues to lecture, publish articles, sit on arts panels, and dance in her kitchen. EYE ON DANCE, co-created with Jeff Bush and produced by the nonprofit organization ARC Video, aired on PBS from 1981 to 2004 and is considered an irreplaceable American dance treasure.
Townsend Talks is a monthly lecture series in which speakers from Long Island and around the country offer fascinating insights into history, decorative arts, architecture, horticulture, and other fields that connect with our site and our mission. Lectures are $20 for museum members, $25 for nonmembers, and $10 for students (with ID) unless otherwise noted. The program begins in the Visitors’ Center, and light refreshments are included.