Written by a former member of The Royal Ballet company, this book offers a true insider's view of absolutely everything a budding balletomane wants to know about dance from the costumes, the steps, the choreographers, and the dance companies to what it's like in a class, a rehearsal and a performance. The illustrations --luscious and atmospheric -- thrill and inspire. Also a terrific reference, this book provides detailed coverage of the history of ballet, retellings of favorite ballet stories, and a glossary of dancers, choreographers, companies and technical terms, as well as a timeline of performances. A beautiful gift book as exciting as opening night!
An informative look at ballet--a little history, a little technique, a lot of behind-the-scenes glimpses into the world of ballet (from a Royal Ballet perspective). There's a great reference section at the end with profiles of dancers, choreographers, and companies, a timeline, and a glossary. Would be a great resource for a middle-grader doing a project on ballet!