"Kinetic Cultures delivers on its promise to challenge conventional narratives of ballet music and choreography. Rachana Vajjhala explores a wealth of untapped archival sources and methods with captivating style and insight. Her richly textured study offers fresh, persuasive analyses of familiar belle époque works and sets a new standard for music and dance scholarship."--Jessie Fillerup, author of Magician of Sound: Ravel and the Aesthetics of Illusion