A Dancer's World - An Introduction

by Margot Fonteyn

The internationally acclaimed, English ballerina provides careful, personal advice to young ballet hopefuls and their parents on all aspects and stages of the dancer's training, career, and life

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introduction to ballet. Margot Fonteyn's writing style is very pleasant and charming; I'd like to read more of her books.

[samsarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

“People who live in big cities are deprieved, consciously or unconsciously, of those almost indefinable things on which our human sensitivity feeds, like the first breath of morning country air imperceptibly scented by dew; the glint of late afternoon sun through pale green leaves; the whiff of wood smoke or even the distant sound of barking carried across fields. A million little bonuses of nature are denied the city dweller, his subconcious is undernourished and his need for art is greater than that of country folk”. - Margot Fonteyn.

I never thought I would ever read a book about ballet in my life (I'm not just so into that), but curious as I am, I started reading this and I'm still surprised how much I liked it. It's an introduction to the ballet microcosm, through the eyes, experience and perspective of a passionate professional of this performing art. Worth the reading.

[Rachel Horwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book to read. A historical picture of a dancer's world - it is of it's time but a nice read and insight. Here are some of the quotes in enjoyed.

Dancers work together, always conscious of each other and often subordinating their efforts to the unity of the whole.
It is almost impossible to turn dancing into anything malevolent or really unpleasant or even mean. So the practice eo tdance brings people together in a friendly spirit. How much easier it is to have an argument in words than in dance, yet two dancers at a party or a night club are certainly in communication even if they don’t say a word to each other.
In a way dance is a language without words, so there is communication and contact among the participants through their relationships in lines, circles or groups. Each step has its direction and pattern, making dancing a well-ordered occupation with well-defined rules. And what a relief that can sometimes be in life so full of choices and decisions!
The alphabet of movement; when they are linked together in a ballet there are a thousand different ways in which they can be made significant, just as words or phrases can be made clumsy or poetic according to the way they are spoken. It is the ability to convey these nuances that makes a true artist.
Modern dancers to look up Glen Tetley, Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, Martha Graham
Martha Graham - Dance is motion, all exercises should be based on the body in motion as its natural state. Training has 3 purposes to strengthen, to liberate and to prepare the body and soul to accept spontaneity of action. Contraction and release to correspond with the natural body rhythm of inhaling and exhaling.
Plish mazurka or cracovienne, the Hungarian czardas
Feel the need to maintain the memory and customs of their homeland.
How one uses that technique that separates the dancer from the athlete. Which brings us to the rather harder qualities to define – qualities such as grace, line, musicality and dramatic ability.
The musical dancer listens, feels and interprets

[Genoveva Uzunova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is quite basic and perhaps applies to the time when Margot Fonteyn was a dancer. Shte touches upon all the basics of becoming a professional dancer. She also describes briefly what makes a good ballet teacher and various styles of dance besides ballet, such as modern dance, ballroom, jazz, and others. I would recommend it highly!

[Ammie Spellings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a wonderful job of explaining the beauty of dance. It explains the difficulty and dedication it takes to be a dancer. It does a wonderful job of explaining both the rules and the breaking of rules found in the world of dance.