The Ballet Book: Learning and Appreciating the Secrets of Dance

by American Ballet Theatre, Nancy Ellison

The definitive book for learning and appreciating ballet, The Ballet Book goes behind the scenes to the classes, rehearsals, and performances that have shaped this prestigious ballet company. Readers will learn from the best as American Ballet Theatre dancers show how to stretch, stand, dance, and perform like professional ballerinas. Featuring photographs of dancers at their most dramatic--and most intimate--this fully illustrated book shares ballet's best-kept secrets and, by demonstrating how to watch and appreciate as well as to dance ballet, is indispensable for every dancer and lover of dance.

The book offers a thorough explanation of each step in a dancer's from preparing the shoes and stretching to classwork and rehearsals to the finale--the performance itself. Both a how-to and a privileged glimpse at the hours of practice and fierce determination that go into making the finest dancers, the book features ballet's brightest stars, including Nina Ananiashvili, popularly known as Nina Ballerina, and Ethan Stiefel, who has become a celebrity both onstage and off.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 2003

Reviews

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

After visiting my local dance studio I became entranced with this book. I would arrive early to stretch, and to look at the graceful lines and delicate port aux bras shown in the stunning photos. After being told I couldn't check out the book, I finally found a used copy, which I greedily devoured. There were a few pages that show correct vs. incorrect hand and feet positions which I appreciated. A favorite quote from the book, "Keeping time is not enough. Ballet is not gymnastics. If there's no music in your movement, you have only a sport." A great book for ballet inspiration.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite ballet book. It has some really nice pictures in it. It doesn't give you a lot of info on technique, but it makes up for it with it's inspirational quality. :) Take a look at one of the pictures and you'll want to work a lot harder. It has a lot to do with ABT. Whee!!