Stories from the Classical Ballet

by Belinda Hollyer

A collection of stories from eight popular ballets, including Petrouchka, La Bayad+a6re, and Giselle, introduce aspiring dancers and ballet enthusiasts to these magical classical dances.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens

Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

Belinda Hollyer grew up in New Zealand, in a little town on the north shore of Auckland harbour, called Takapuna. She is a children’s author and an ex-teacher, teacher-librarian, book editor and publisher.

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting at the library one day. I love it because it gives real ballet history since the editor, Irina Baronova, was a ballerina herself. So there are fascinating glimpses into real ballet history throughout the book as Irina recounts her own ballet memories. It's a great introduction to the stories behind ballets, including my favorites; The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. The story of Petrouchka is so tragic and sad, it left me feeling melancholy for the rest of the day. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ballet history and the story behind the dances.

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was great to read some the stories of some of the ballets I wish I could see. It is geared for children, but it really is a lovely little read.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book about the plot lines from famous ballets. Nice and easy introductory reading before attending one of these ballets. We read this in our homeschool Dialectic history studies.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A richly illustrated collection of stories from classical ballets complete with production notes. Very nice!