Book Description
Sparking watercolors-and-ink illustrations dance across the page and spill out onto a horizontal foldout of elephants and ballerinas spotlighted together--in the true story of "Circus Polka," choreographed in 1942 by George Balanchine, with music by Igor Stravinsky and performances by John Ringling North's elephants. Robert Andrew Parker brings his love of theater, dance, and costume to this captivating story. Leda Schubert's background note includes black-and-white photos of the actual performance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Beautiful book!
Gigantic elephants dancing in elegant pink tutus along with human ballerinas sounds like pure fantasy--but it's all true.Considering the great showman, choreographer and composer involved in creating the actual circus show, it couldn't escape being an amazing production. Now it's all documented in a fascinating book, worthy of being appreciated by young and old.
BALLET OF THE ELEPHANTS is well-written and exquisitely illustrated with dream-like art.

Circus Polka
BALLET OF THE ELEPHANTS by Leda Schubert is a charming book telling the story of three talented men and fifty performing elephants. In April 1942, a unique show opened: Circus Polka, the brainchild of three men with very different backgrounds: John Ringling North, George Balanchine, and Igor Stravinsky. The book briefly describes the individual lives of the three men, the collaboration between the three men in the creative process, the training of the elephants in preparation for the show, and the show itself. The book concludes with background notes from the author which adds even more interest to the book. For example, the author notes that during her research she learned that "the elephants, even when they retired, so loved the ballet and were so well trained that they performed it all by themselves, without music."There is also a black and white photograph of the real performance!

Excellent book!
This is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it for children and adults alike.This true story is simply and poetically described, giving very clear and interesting background on historical figures Stravinsky, Balanchine, and John Ringling North.The descriptions and illustrations of the elephant ballet are beautifully done, allowing the imagination to run wild at the thought of circus elephants in tutus, dancing a ballet.A truly magical book. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
Tucker loves ballet-even though some people don't understand his passion for dancing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Dance to Your Own Beat
From the moment he wakes up in the morning until the moment he goes to sleep at night, Tucker is in constant motion. His boundless energy and upbeat personality make him bounce down the stairs, twirl around his parents, and weave between his younger sisters. His natural affinity for dancing leads him to ballet class. He absolutely loves dancing and enjoys his class. He doesn't care that he's the only boy enrolled in the course - until his male classmates find out and make fun of him for it. His uncle isn't too keen on it either. Happily, Tucker follows his heart (or, rather, his feet!) During a football game, his speed and agility impress his peers, and the teasing diminishes.

Gruska's text is simple and easy to follow, and the colorful illustrations by Amy Wummer suit the story. Even the endpapers are pretty! (I really love argyle.) The book includes a glossary of ballet terms to further educate hopeful dancers. This story will encourage readers of all ages to keep dancing to the beat of his or her own drummer.

Courage Under Fire
The Only Boy in Ballet Class is a perfectly charming book, wonderfully illustrated by a prolific artist, but it's also an important story for young children about coming to terms with your true self and expressing the passions you really feel, even if others don't quite get it. It's a story about commitment, about perseverance, and about unanticipated rewards.

Tucker Dohr loves to dance, and not just any kind of dancing, but the difficult discipline of the Ballet. Being the only boy in a ballet class is very hard, but Tucker needs to dance, even though many of the kids in his neighborhood mock his participation in a "girly" activity. And if that weren't bad enough, Tucker has an uncle, equally rigid and unsupportive, who constantly carps at his dancing and urges him to take up more stereotypical activities for boys. But Tucker looks forward to his ballet classes, and doesn't give up.

He has heart, in a heartless world, or perhaps just a world burdened by the many broken-hearted people who've let their own dreams fade away, and then settled for someone else's dream, someone else's life.

Tucker is very lucky as well; his Uncle has no real say in his life, other than as a wet blanket and kibbitzer from the sidelines. Tucker's parents support him, and allow Tucker to be himself, to find his own way, and to dream his own dreams.

The illustrations beautifully extend the text of the book and make it more compelling, allowing us to see Tucker's sense of joy and fulfillment in dance, both in private moments and during public performance.

This book will be attractive to any child interested in the Ballet, and even includes a little glossary of dance terms which describes the various movements Tucker excels at. But it will also be attractive to any children who find themselves inhabiting the unknown territories at the boundaries of life, whether that be the difficult negotiation of gender roles and behavior, as in this book, or those who are fascinated with unpopular subjects -- like lepidoptery, or Etruscan pottery -- because Tucker does just fine. His passion turns out to be valuable in fields outside the dance studio, and he still loves to dance.

A Passionate Book About a Passionate Boy
The Only Boy in Ballet Class is a passionate, entertaining, funny, and poignant look at a boy's struggle to be his most authentic self.I read this with my daughter and it moved her, literally, to dance around the living room.She had me demonstrating the various balllet moves from the glossary in the back.Then, in mid pirouette declared her intentions to become a ballet dancer, just like Tucker Dohr. No doubt this book inspired her to move.But I appreciated it most for the valuable message it imparts to its readers, of celebrating the uniqueness in all of us.Because, after all,that is what makes us each special.

A beautiful book for boys, girls, and adults
This beautiful book brought tears to my eyes. It so perfectly capatures the joy and the struggle that each of us face as we learn to be ourselves in this world.It provides a wonderful starting point for parents to talk to their children about how to be true to what we really love and how to respect others for who they are.Plus, my football playing boys had a blast trying out all the ballet moves.This book is a treasure that will be read and enjoyed for many years in our home.It would make a great gift for any family!

Great Book for Adults, Too!
Whether you were a BMOC (big man on campus) or a wallflower, almost every adult has experienced being part of the "in crowd", or being a social pariah.Denise Gruska's "Only Boy in Ballet Class" explores these themes in a terrific book that shows there is life after teasing.Every adult can relate to this, and every kid will (at some point) go through it. I bought this book for my kid to show that it's o.k. to be a ballet dancer, or a football player (or both), but mostly, that it's o.k. to be DIFFERENT. Self-acceptance, and doing what you love (in spite of what other people think) is the most important thing, and Gruska's warm and delightful book is proof positive of both. A terrific book for kids and adults alike! ... Read more

Book Description
In this illustrated step-by-step guide, readers learn everything a graceful ballerina needs to know, from holding the barre to arabesques and pas de deux. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Superb Introduction To BasicBallet Technique.
Darcey Bussell has been one of the world's greatest ballerinas so, when she writes a book on ballet, the expectations are high.Fortunately, this book does a great job in explaining and illustrating basic ballet technique, through a wealth of beautiful color photographs with ample descriptions, and is surprisingly extensive, even showing how to tie pointe shoe ribbons.The basics are shown by her young students, both boys and girls, from the Royal Academy of Dance, with perfect form.There are also many photos of Darcey dancing solo and in pas de deux, and a group photo of Darcey with her students.The quality of this book is first rate and a real bargain as of this writing.Readers both young and old should find this rewarding. ... Read more

Book Description
Ellie can't believe it! She and her ballet friends are going to be Year 8 students! They'll have new uniforms, new classes, and a new dorm! There will be a whole new crop of Year 7 dancers, and Ellie will be a guide to one of them. What will school life be like without Sophie? What performances will Ellie be auditioning for, and what new challenges will she have to face? She can't wait to find out! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

UR RIGHT BALLET FRIENDS IS WAY COOLER!!!!
I read the other review and checked out the new BALLET FRIENDS BOOKS series on their site balletfriendsbooks.Thanx for the heads up!! It's SO COOL!!! I spent all night checking out all the cool stuff, reading about the books, and groovin to the free tunes.The site's really pretty too!! It's all Hello Kitty and butterflies.Anyway i don't care for Royal Ballet books at all.I got one for Christmas and was very disappointed. It was like preachy and stuck up and i hated all the issues the author tried to push.It was so annoying.Ballet Friends Books is like the opposite cause it's all about having fun and giving the readers what they want. I can't wait to get my hands on it!!!!!

BALLET FRIENDS IS BETTER!!!
The Royal Ballet books are OK but sorta boring.I do ballet and like to read so I've been looking for books about dance.Today I was really surprised when I found the web site for a new series called Ballet Friends.It looks awsome and really really funny!!They got tons of cool stuff like funny stories and quizes like in J-14.It's also got free music like Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani.You gotta check it out.[...]

I'm gonna preorder my copy real soon.I can't wait to read it!!!

A great story about the new girl in school and crushes!
This is the 7th book in The R.B.S. Diaries series. Ellie and her friends are coming back to the school after a break and are going to be Year 8 students. They have to start new classes with new teachers and are looking forward to their new uniforms and a new dorm. The only thing that the girls aren't happy about is that their friend Sophie will not be coming back to the school. Yet, they are surprised to find out that there is a new girl (Molly) that has taken her place. Ellie, always compassionate and helpful, takes Molly under her wing to help her out. All the other girls instantly like Molly, except for Bryony. Ellie doesn't know what Bryony's problem is with Molly, but as always, she is determined to make them friends yet! Meanwhile, Ellie has developed a crush on one the guys! This is yet again a rewarding read. And as I stated in my previous reviews in the series, the only thing that I don't care for in The R.B.S. Diaries are that at times they can sound like a R.B.S. advertisement. ... Read more

Book Description
Come along as Angelina teams up with real ballerinas to teach readersall about being a ballet dancer. Angelina shows everyone what towear, how to stretch and get ready, how to do simple steps, and somuch more. And with beautiful photographs of real ballerinas as wellas spots of Angelina and friends from the original picture books, MyFirst Ballet Class will be every little ballerina’s favorite book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Who is trying to ruin the big recital?
Put on your pink tights, black leotards, toe shoes and get ready to pirouette your way to a smashing solution of one of eight-year-old Nancy Drew's most entertaining mysteries!

Set against the backdrop of Madame Dugrand's dance studio, Nancy and all her girlfriends are ready for the big night! That is, until the music for their special performance goes missing.

Could it be the janitor, who is mad because the recital is causing him so much extra work? Or could it be one of the girls?

Nancy has a mere two days to crack the case of Bad Day for Ballet, and her fans will adore following along!

Elizabeth's Review
I am seven years old. I like this book because it is really neat. I would have to say this book is a best book's I have read. The author did a great job on the book. The book is about a girl named Nancy. Nancy has a big mission. Nancy looks for the tape. Does Nancy find the tape or does her friend get blamed? Nancy Drew books are my favorite books. Nancy Drew books are the best books. (I would have to say)

THE END

Series Review
In the series Nancy Drew Notebooks by Carolyn Keene, the main character Nancy Drew is always solving mysteries.For example, in the book Nancy Drew and the Sandcastle Mystery, Nancy, Bess and George are wondering who smashed their building.And they built it for a contest.

My favorite Nancy Drew book is Bad Day for Ballet because I used to take ballet and it's very fun to do.I'm not going to give the ending away because I want you to find out what happened and if it turns out to be a real bad day for ballet.

What I enjoy about the series is the mysteries and characters.I think people who should read this series are people who like very fun mysteries.Also you might want a notebook like Nancy Drew.She writes whatever happens.And I also have a notebook like Nancy Drew.Whenever I read the Nancy Drew series, I feel like a detective too!

By Stephanie N.

BAD DAY AT THE BALET...MAYBE NOT
ITS GREAT AND MAYBE ITS NOT SO BAD READ AND FIND OUT...

Great book
I loved this book when I was little. I read it about ten times. This is a great kids series and suggest it to child who likes to read short novels. ... Read more

Book Description
Tilly loves her ballet class. What could be more fun? She gets to wear special clothes, try out fancy new positions, and do her best cat impression. But, when it’s time for the big recital, Tilly learns another aspect of ballet: the preperformance jitters!

Perfect for the beginning ballerina, this gentle text combined with exuberant and warm illustrations captures the joy and excitement brought on by everything from wearing your first tutu to practicing your first plié. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A BOOK TO KEEP YOUNG DANCERS ON THEIR TOES
All young dancers, boys and girls alike, will easily and happily relate to Tilly.This is a little girl who loves her ballet classes so much that her Mom calls her "Tutu Tilly."

These classes are all excitement and fun for Tilly.She likes the special clothes, especially her pretty pink leotard, and she even enjoyswarm-up exercises.

However, there's also a great deal of work to be done because there's a big show coming up.There are all kinds of animals in the show - Howard is a butterfly, Jake is a dinosaur, and Tilly is a cat.

She practices every day because she's determined to dance just like a real cat.Then, as the big day approaches, whoops, she has a funny feeling in her stomach - it's those pre-performance butterflies.

However, everyone knows the show must go on.Illustrator McNicholas perfectly captures the action and excitement of young dancers in her sprightly, colorful paintings.

A BOOK TO KEEP SMALL DANCERS ON THEIR TOES
All young dancers, boys and girls alike, will easily and happily relate to Tilly.This is a little girl who loves her ballet classes so much that her Mom calls her "Tutu Tilly."

These classes are all excitement and fun for Tilly.She likes the special clothes, especially her pretty pink leotard, and she even enjoyswarm-up exercises.

However, there's also a great deal of work to be done because there's a big show coming up.There are all kinds of animals in the show - Howard is a butterfly, Jake is a dinosaur, and Tilly is a cat.

She practices every day because she's determined to dance just like a real cat.Then, as the big day approaches, whoops, she has a funny feeling in her stomach - it's those pre-performance butterflies.

However, everyone knows the show must go on.Illustrator McNicholas perfectly captures the action and excitement of young dancers in her sprightly, colorful paintings.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Book Description
Stories to go! Children love to listen to stories. Now their favorite Dorling Kindersley children's books are available in convenient book--and--tape packages that are perfect for the car or anywhere. With more than 60 minutes of audio on each tape, these packages will be favorites of children and parents alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good Choices
I bought the book to share with my younger ballet students.My 5-6 year olds loved sitting down for a short story time during ballet class.The story of The Nutcracker was divided into four logical sections, so for their last four classes before winter break I read one section each class.

The first time I introduced a little background of the ballet before reading.Each subsequent day we reviewed the characters, action and setting from the week prior before reading the next section.After reading about the Land of Sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy (the last two sections) I had my students try to dance like their favorite candies of today, then we danced to the actual Sugar Plum Fairy music.

I was able to incorporate the story into my class easily, because it was divided so well already.One part of the story was on each two page spread, and my students loved looking at the illustrations and the photographs of actual dancers in costume.

I have listened to the CD component, but it only seems to have one track for each story, so it would have been difficult to use in my lesson plan.It does have the music for each section of the ballet in the background as Ms. Bussell is reading.The CD would be an excellent accompaniment for reading the book with a child at home, or listening to at home or in the car.

I will probably use the same format to share another of the five total ballet stories in the book with my students, and I will definitely repeat the Nutcracker lesson plan next Fall.

Great book/cd
I bought this for my 5yr old daughter who is taking ballet lessons.It is a charming informative book with wonderful photos and drawings. I think children older than 4-8(amazon's recommendation) would also enjoy this item.

Great book!
This is a lovely little book with great pictures which has really helped my daughter learn moves and draw them. The stories are well written and it's great that a currently popular ballet dancer helped with it, not one retiring and probably never heard from again. I reccomend this book for people who like ballet and the stories, it a great book to read to children!

The Five Classic Ballets - An Introduction
This is a perfect introduction for the young, serious balletstudent to THE classic ballets: The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.It tells the story(s) AS DANCED, an important difference for a student of dance.Ms. Bussell's personal comments and pictures ignite a young dancer's dreams of a professional career.My daughter just turned ten and the detail was appropriate for her reading and interest level.Although the read-along-feature makes it look like it's for younger readers, I think ten is the youngest age I'd recommend unless you have an EXCEPTIONAL reader who also LOVES ballet.This review is based on the book. I haven't had a chance to listen to the audio yet; it's available on cassette or CD.Amazon's price was the best... ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (9)

fascinating and beautiful
This book is nothing but spectacular photography and interesting behind-the-scenes looks at one of the most beautiful arts in the world. I love ballet and I can't get enough of it. This book is one of my favorite things ever and it's a great addition to any book collection. Stories, costumes, and props for various major ballets from Nutcrakcer to Sleeping Beauty were a pleasant surprise that added to the quality of this book.

Behind-the-Scenes and upfront at ABT
A comprehensive overview of the workings of a major ballet company,in this case American Ballet Theatre, with detailed insights from administrators, students, staff, and principal dancers.Not only are various levels of experience explored (from corps to principals) but also some of the training involved and differences between styles of performance: Virtuoso/bravura, Lyrical/Adagio, Allegro.In short, what makes a dancer great or a performance work. There are also explanations of rehearsal scheduling, tech/dress rehearsals, and why time is money too.

The section on the details of partnering--especially lifts and preventing mistakes in timing or perception--was interesting because this is an area not usually covered in simple manuals of positions. Also the sections on what aspects of technique matter--e.g. purity of line, consistancy of positioning--besides the pyrotechniques of 32 fouettes or soaring ballon may help others see it's not all tricks.And finally someone shows proper hands and says no to 'droopy wrists'!

There are a wealth of photographs: Both corps demonstrating positions and rehearsing; Irina Kolpakova, Kevin McKenzie, Kirk Peterson, Guillaum Graffin teaching; Lar Lubovich choreographing; and the principals in performance of the major repertoire.Enjoy the pictures of current and up-and-coming soloist/corps members--some of whom are now principals.There are also one or two photos of principals prepping in their dressing rooms and/or the wings. The contrast between the dancers and the backstage gaffer/fly/grip staff and big$-donors observing rehearsals is also amusing.

All in all, a lovely overview of ABT busy at work bringing insight and enjoyment to us fans, however knowledgeable we are--or not.A good purchase, especially for the details provided and knowing comments of the dancers and teacher/coaches.

decor
A beautiful book with photos and some text.
There is no real explanation of how to do anything ballet.
That is OK. Just understand that this is basically a book for decoration, not instruction.

SO FAR I LOVE THE BOOK, I CAN'T WAIT TO FINISH IT
I love everything about the text, photos.I use do ballet, but I didn't know anything about it when I took ballet.So this book is showing and telling about it.Its defintly a keepsake for me and my kids, grandkids, and so on.Thank you.

I Love This Book!!!!!
I just got this book a week ago and I love it!I am a 12 year old ballet dancer looking for new ways to improve myself in technique and choreography and this was definently the book to do that! The Ballet Book is now my favorite book and I read it when I have free time(when I am not dancing). The pictures were beautiful and had everything I needed to know right there! Thank you for this wonderful book!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description
This lavishly illustrated book surveys the dance, art, music, and cultural worlds of the Ballets Russes, the preeminent dance company that helped to define the avant-garde in the early part of the twentieth century. The book explores the life of founder Serge Diaghilev, his relationship with Igor Stravinsky and other famous artists who worked with the Ballets Russes, the legacy of the company in the United States and England, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

It's a lovely coffee table book and that's about it.
The paper is lovely and the photographs, well, I've seen them a hundred times before. It's a lovely coffee table book, anyone can look cultured if they have this is on display.

I agree with other reviewers who think that a/it's enough about Diaghilev, and, b/the articles are almost too esoteric for words, and c/ Diaghilev would, indeed, not like all this intrusive, not to say, mis-conceived, in-depth analysis, of his world.

I also have the feeling that the writers involved couldn't even pronounce Diaghilev's name correctly. Not to mention the profusion of errors of both facts and judgements with which this book is littered.

Better luck next time, and remember, you can't fool all of the people all of the time!

Lynn Garafola's "The Ballets Russes and Its World"
Thank you to Dr. Garafola and Nancy Baer for their long-awaited, wonderful and beautifully illustrated book on the Ballets Russes. It is an extraordinary contribution to the fields of dance and art history. It will be well-appreciated in classrooms and libraries across America. It is also a useful text as it can be appreciated both by the aficionado of ballet history, as well as by the novice, trying to learn through scene design and costume shapes the myriad interpretations of the twenty-year life of Diaghilev's Russian ballet company. Any return to the modernist era is of use to students of history and performing artists of any generation.

Enough is enough already!!!!!!!!!
Many years ago Dame Ninette de Valois said to Richard Buckle that she thought everything that had been said about Diaghilev had already been said and how right she was.

If ever a lemon was squeezed dry it was Diaghilev's.

Please, everybody, enough is enough about Diaghilev.

Diaghilev died in 1929. It's time to let him rest in peace.
When I read a book I like to think there was a raison d'etre behind it's publication. I can't make the connection with this one. It's time, I think, to let the whole Diaghilev thing go. Sure, it was a time of greatcreativity in the Arts, and, he was his own fundraiser, and his own master,without the stultifying effects of any official committees to hamper hisartistic vision. Such a person could not possibly exist today. If Diaghilevhad one fault, it was that he made the Arts, and certainly, ballet, muchtoo popular.

This book reminded me of Nesta MacDonald's "DiaghilevObserved" in as much that the editors/authors are writing aboutsomething they are not fully party to and have no real understanding of,and therefore, no real conception of what they are about. Whereas MrsMacDonald tried to turn Diaghilev into the Conversative Party Member forKensington [South], Garafola and her colleagues seem to see Diaghilev as astaunch Republican with close affiliations with the Klu Klux Klan.

I'mafraid it's well nigh impossible to try to see Diaghilev as a PoliticallyCorrect Figure in the year 2000. He was a complex, paradoxical figure, withall, for better or worse, of the values and all of the prejudices of histime.

It would be too long and too tedious to enumerate the many manymisconceptions and faulty logic in this book, but I will point out a fewthings: Diaghilev did NOT invent the one act ballet, and I nearly fell downwhen I saw that 'most of the earlier ballets in the Diaghilev repertoireare no longer performed'. HEL-LO? Amazing statement! And completelyinaccurate. Isadora Duncan was NOT an influence on anyone, except, briefly,the young Michael Fokine. Isadora Duncan was a joke! Finally: I take itthat Garafola and her contributors have never lived in an Occupied Country?Therefore I find this book's attitude to Serge Lifar nothing more thansanctimonious cant. No-one has the right to judge whether he did right orwrong if they have not lived under such conditions.

I often get thefeeling that Diaghilev would loath all this rubbish that is churned outabout him from people who really don't have a clue as to what he was about,and he'd probably loathe all these marauding authors and editors even more! ... Read more

Book Description
Transport young readers into a real ballet class with Ballet School! Beautiful full color photography captures children learning how to form the five positions, perform basic dance techniques, and put on a recital. Follow along with the class as they learn how to warm up before practicing, perform jumps and leaps, execute the perfect final curtsy or bow, and much more.

Ballet School captivates by showing the gracefulness of ballet in the atmosphere of a real class, letting children learn what to expect from a ballet class. Whether reading about how to dress for a performance, observing the difference between pointe shoes and slippers, or learning how to tell a story through ballet, young dancers will love this very special introduction to the world of dance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Perfect for little Ballerinas!
Well this is a beautiful book, with beautiful photographs, that teach and explain in detail the basics of ballet. My dauther is 4 years old and she's in love with the book, because it helps her practice what she's learning at her Ballet School!Little girls can relate to everything inthe book, it explains why they have to wear the leotards and ballet sleepers, and why they have to be neatly presented for every class.it also teaches about being persistant and that practice makes perfect!So I'm very happy, because my ballerina is improving in class thanks to this book that allows her to practice at home with a well illustrated and explained story.

Must have for little ballerinas
My 6 year-old owns this very book in german language and loves it. Not only the proper attire is explained, but the children are also introduced in the basic arm- and feet-positions of ballet and the french terminology. As a mom of a ballet-crazy girl, I can only recommend this book, it is made for children, but also very suitable for the parents. My daughter showed it also to her ballet-teacher, who also said, that she'd recommend this book to little ballet loving girls and their parents, as it can also be used as a good base for practise at home.

The pictures are beautiful too.

Great Book for Dancing Preschoolers
This book is a must have!!! I have a 3 year old who takes Tap/Ballet lessons from a dance school and she is in love with this book. She loves to listen and look at the bright and big pictures of the children dancing and compare what she does in class to what the kids are doing in the book. Can't say enough good things.............

With color photos of the class in action
Ages 5-8 will find Ballet School a warm story of a young dancer's introduction to the world of ballet. The book follows the expereinces of young ballet students from first dance classes to year-end performances, paired with color photos of the class in action. ... Read more

Book Description
Ballet is a paradox: much loved but little studied. It is a beautiful fairy tale; detached from its origins and unrelated to the men and women who created it. Yet ballet has a history, little known and rarely presented. These great works have dark sides and moral ambiguities, not always nor immediately visible. The daring and challenging quality of ballet as well as its perceived 'safe' nature is not only one of its fascinations but one of the intriguing questions to be explored in this Companion. The essays reveal the conception, intent and underlying meaning of ballets and recreate the historical reality in which they emerged. The reader will find new and unexpected aspects of ballet, its history and its aesthetics, the evolution of plot and narrative, new insights into the reality of training, the choice of costume and the transformation of an old art in a modern world. ... Read more

Book Description
DK presents exciting new covers for 13 of your favorite Ultimate Sticker Books: Animal, Baby Animal, Ballet, Bug, Bulldozer, Dangerous Dinosaurs, Dinosaur, Ancient Egypt, Farm, Pony, Shark and Whale, Space, and Truck. Annotated with factual information, each book contains more than 60 full-color, reusable stickers so children can create their own fun scenes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

My little girls LOVES this sticker book
I bought this as a birthday present for my 7-year-old and she has spent a lot of time poring over each page, reading the captions and attaching the stickers. It is a very informative book and lots of fun for the little girl who likes stickers and ballerinas (which is just about all of them.) It was inexpensive and the stickers -- which are beautiful -- are re-usable. ... Read more

Book Description
This oversized, deluxe volume celebrating the exquisite spectacle that embodies the excellence of American Ballet Theatre, recognized by Congress as "America’s national ballet company," presents the unfolding beauty, grace, agility, and sheer force of its most recent productions. Distinguished photographer Nancy Ellison depicts such enduring ballet classics as La Bayadère, Othello, The Sleeping Beauty, Manon, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, and Giselle, and captures the virtuosity of such unforgettable dancers as Angel Corella, Nina Ananiashvili, Alessandra Ferri, Julio Bocca, and Ethan Stiefel. ABT’s artistic director, Kevin McKenzie, has written an illuminating essay about this preeminent company. The combination of dynamic bravura dancing in dreamlike settings will be a sheer delight to ballet lovers everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description
Little Sylvie likes to play dress-up and dance in the garden with her big sister.But Sylvie is too young for ballet class.And Sylvie does NOT want to be an elf in games of pretend.When an unintentional haircut leaves Sylvie's hair too short for braids, big sister comes to the rescue by creating a set of braids from an old pair of tights!New readers will delight in the funny antics of little Sylvie and in the patience of her big sister! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Duckling and The Swan
Love this book.Great for anyone who has two daughters.The illustrations are great. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Essential Dance History Text
Lincoln Kirstein's genius as a writer of dance history is his ability to concisely and accurately relate dance to politics, industry, and economics--among other things. This book is organized chronologically by dance masterpieces, beginning with the sixteenth century and ending in the twentieth century. It's a great quick reference book to the great ballets. For each ballet, Kirstein describes the plot, creation of the ballet, and artistic collaborations that made the ballet possible. More importantly, he puts each ballet into historical context by discussing the art movements and politics of the time that affected the performers, choreographers, composers, costume designers, set designers, librettists, and other creative contributors to the ballets.

There is also a section of photographs, lithographs, etchings, and drawings at the end, in addition to the art that appears with each ballet. You won't find a lot of biographical information in the book, nor is it filled with anecdotes about the artists. The bibliography will point you in the right direction if you want to learn more. This is a straightforward, factual book that never ceases to educate and fascinate. ... Read more

Book Description

Pas de Deux shows dancers of The Royal Ballet in remarkable and beautiful photographs, taken at the Royal Opera House. The images record striking pas de deux moments across The Royal Ballet's repertory. It includes classics such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, masterpieces by Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan.

Book Description
Whether as performers or as spectators, more people enjoy dance today than ever before. Its extraordinary range extends from classical ballet and baroque court spectacles to avant-garde modern dance, tap, and ethnic dancing. Anyone with an interest in dance has felt the need for a guide to the art's rich history and complex present state. Susan Au's lucid text covers the entire spectrum of dance, vividly describing the great performers and performances of the past as well as exploring in detail the dance world of today. A generous selection of illustrations completes the picture, taking the reader from the palaces of the Medici to the lofts of Manhattan, from the dancing of Louis XIV to the experimental choreography of Twyla Tharp and Pina Bausch. A completely new final chapter documents the work of the chief dancers and choreographers from the 1980s to the present, covering offshoots of modern dance such as Tanztheater and Butoh, and recent developments such as performance art and site-specific choreography. The author discusses the upsurge in the popularity of dances of the past, among them ballroom dancing and the Argentine tango, and notes the revival of tap dancing as well as the successful adaptation of Irish stepdancing to the theater. In addition, she records the uses dance and dancers have made of recent technological advances, including cinedance and videodance, CD-ROMs, and the Internet. 145 illustrations and photographs, 25 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Choose this as a reliable text or source book.
Susan Au's history of ballet & modern dance is intelligent and authoritative.Where other narrative treatments often choose details seemingly randomly, Susan Au builds the narrative from the details she proffers.Nor does she lapse into odd anecdotes often found in other narrative treatments.This book corrects some errors that have been perpetuated in earlier encyclopedic volumes.I wish she had included a short section on antiquity, as I believe that some of the inspiration for and concepts in "classical" ballet and in early modern dance derive from the rediscovery of antiquity -- but this is just quibbling.If you are going to teach 19th and 20th century Western dance history, this is a reliable way to go.

A good overview
I use this book in my ballet history course and it's a very good book for that purpose, that is, for a basic overview on the history of dance. You won't find many details on special subjects, such as specific ballets, but it's great if you want to understand the developement of ballet through the ages and know something about the people who put their marks on the ballet. Lot's of colour photgraphs. Au's use of words is sometimes a bit complicated, at least for someone who doesn't have English for a first language. But a great book. ... Read more

Book Description
Instructive techniques for practicing ballet away from class are presented in this compilation of three previously published volumes. Elementary barre exercises, basic arm movements and positions of the body, and elevation and connecting steps are detailed with illustrations and helpful pointers that complement the guidance of a ballet instructor. Correct ballet terms are defined and listed in French with phonetic pronunciations. Parents, teachers, and students of ballet will find expert advice in this classic of ballet instruction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful book
This book was highly recommended by my daughter's dance teacher (whose own daughter is a professional ballet dancer).There are numerous photos and drawings which teach not only what is correct, but also shows what not to do.It only shows things that are appropriate for young dancers with growing bones and ligaments."Steps in Ballet" is great for those of us with no ballet training, so that we know if our daughters are being taught properly and what is age appropriate.I would recommend it for anyone whose child is interested in dancing. ... Read more