cygneblanc Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 For the ones who are able to understand French, I would recommend Danse by Anne Delbée. It's a novel for adults but it can be read by teenagers. It's a really very inspiring book ! Quote Link to post
Guest dollface Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 (edited) White Swan Black Swan (Adult Fiction) is nice-- a collection of short stories. I really liked Dancing Away by Deborah Bull as much for the politics as for the dance, and Allegra Kent's Autobiography is one of the most entertaining of the lot. She has a good sense of humor and isn't the least stuck up, plus she writes about New York. There are also lots of silly/lousy dance books. I won't list them. Also, Maria Tallchief wrote a rather interesting autobiography too. I really enjoyed it. Edited March 31, 2004 by dollface Quote Link to post
Balletmartyr Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Holding on to the Air by Suzanne Farrell and Toni Bentley and Winter Season by Toni Bentley. Both non-fiction for teen/adult. I would recommend for young dancers looking into the lives of real dancers. Some of the realities of the ballet world seem depressing, but enthralling as well. Quote Link to post
Guest PosyFossil Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 (edited) Here's a list of all the Noel Streatfeild books that involve ballet in some form or the other: Ballet Shoes Curtain Up (published as Theatre Shoes in the US) - involves the Fossil sisters from Ballet Shoes and also includes a new character, Miriam, who is a ballerina in training The Painted Garden (published as Movie Shoes in the US) - also involves the Fossil sisters and includes another new character, Rachel, who is a ballerina in training Wintle's Wonders (published as Dancing Shoes in the US and elsewhere in newer editions) - Does not involve the Fossil sisters; one of the two main characters, Hilary, is a talented ballet dancer Ballet Shoes for Anna The Gemma Series - In order -- Gemma, Gemma and Sisters, Gemma Alone, Goodbye Gemma - About a child actress who must go live with her country cousins when her career is thought to be washed up; one of the cousins, Lydia, is a ballet dancer As many of Streatfeild's novels seem to be out of print in the US, one suggestion I would have for anyone searching for them is to look on Canadian websites such as Amazon.ca or Chapters.ca - many of the books are still in print here, and shipping costs to the US would be cheaper than ordering them from Amazon UK. I have also enjoyed many of the other novels people have already suggested, such as the three Jean Richardson books and Veronica Tennant's On Stage, Please. A few other fun children's novels that involve ballet: The Sisters Impossible by J.D. Landis - A story of two sisters, older sister Sandra, who is a ballet dancer and the "graceful swan" of the family, and her awkward younger sister who is forced to take ballet lessons and eventually comes to enjoy them Hi There, Supermouse! by Jean Ure - Another story of two sisters with clashing personalities - younger sister Rose is pretty and talented at dance and acting, while slightly older Nicola is a tomboy. Nicola turns out to have potential as a ballerina and realizes that she can love dance and keep her tomboyish nature at the same time. The same author also has a novel called Star Turn that involves ballet, but I've never been able to find a copy. The Bad News Ballet series by Jahnna N. Malcolm - A series from the late 80s or early 90s about a group of junior high misfits who are thrown together in an unlikely friendship when their mothers force them to take ballet... and they realize they actually like it. I believe this series has been republished twice - once in 2001 in North America, with the books repackaged and some given new titles, and once in the UK under the series title "Scrambled Legs". The Sadler's Wells series by Lorna Hill - A charming series of 14 books that follow a series of dancers over the generations as they train to be ballerinas at the prestigious Sadler's Wells ballet school. Unfortunately, these books are now out of print and some of them are extremely difficult to find. They are, in order, A Dream of Sadler's Wells, Veronica at the Wells, Masquerade at the Wells, No Castanets at the Wells, Jane Leaves the Wells, Ella at the Wells, Return to the Wells, Rosanna Joins the Wells, Principal Role, Swan Feather, Dress Rehearsal, Backstage, Vicki in Venice, and The Secret. Lorna Hill also had another ballet series called the Dancing Peel series that included six books - Dancing Peel, Dancer's Luck, The Little Dancer, Dancer in the Wings, Dancer in Danger and Dancer on Holiday. I'm sure I've read several other ballet books as a child, but they aren't coming to mind at the moment, so I'll post again if I remember any! Edited April 18, 2004 by PosyFossil Quote Link to post
xxjan3rz Posted April 22, 2004 Report Share Posted April 22, 2004 (edited) I read a great book called Dancer by Lorri Hewett. All dancers would enjoy it, since it depicts what it's really like to be a dance student. I'd recommend it! -xxjan3rz Edited April 22, 2004 by xxjan3rz Quote Link to post
minty Posted April 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2004 yes, Dancer is a good book ; I don't write often, but I always read this thread, with attention ; I now have all the books mentionned (and some others, but the titles don't always come to mind) I am currently reading 'Ballerina', and yes , jerlynf, it's a very interesting book, where the author uses real names ; Quote Link to post
minty Posted May 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 Hello everybody ; I have followed this forum very closely, and have tried to get as many of the books as possible ; I have now compiled a list of all the books I've got , and which I can comment on (age question, ...) Here is the beginning (to be followed ) Asher Sandy : Just like Jenny Bussell Darcey : Favorite Ballet Stories Life in dance Bull Deborah : Dancing away Blanton Catherine : Hold fast to your dreams Bernard Elizabeth : Satin Slippers (1 to 5) Betancourt Jane : Kate's turn Baron Nancy : Tuesday's child Corbett Kate : First string future Future perfect Castor Harriet : Ballet stories Firebird Costello Emily : Ballet School (1 to 6) Collard Alexandra : Two young dancers : Their world of ballet Cunxin Li : Mao's last dancer Dean Karen Strickler : Maggie Adams, dancer Between dances Stay on your toes, Maggie Adams Mariana Cammy takes a bow Deans Sis : Everyday and all the time Danilova : Choura , the memoir of Alexandra Danilova Estoril Jean n: The Drina serie (10 books) The ballet Family The ballet family again Edwards Leslie : In good company Fonteyn Margot : Autobiography A dancer's world Farrar Suzanne Clement : Samantha on satge Freymann-Weyr : The kings are already here Godden Runner : A candle for St Jude Pippa passes more later ... Quote Link to post
vrsfanatic Posted May 4, 2004 Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 minty, this is quite a lovely list. Thank you for the contribution. Your work is very impressive. Perhaps you could inspire me to begin to catologue my library! I am sweating just at the thought! Quote Link to post
minty Posted May 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 a little more hill Lorna : the wells serie (11 books) The little dancer Dancer's luck dancing peel dancer in the wings the secret dancer in danger hewett lori : dancer hampshire susan : lucy jane at the ballet hest amy maybe next year howell anthony : in the company of others hughes barbara : both feet of the ground hamilton janet : the short history of a prince hurwin davida n: a time for dancing jones mal lewis Ballet school serie (5 books) dance club (6 books) kirkland gelsey : dancing on my grave Quote Link to post
minty Posted May 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 de mille agnes : dance to the piper mccann colum : dancer malcom Jahna m. Bad news ballet serie (or scrambled legs) mazo joseph : dane is a contact sport porter tracy : a dance of sisters richardson jean : the first step dancer in the wings one foot on the ground stage strcuk rees elisabeth : heart beats serie turner robyn : russian nights tennant veronica : on stage please tamar erika : alphabet city ballet Quote Link to post
minty Posted May 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 ure jean : ballet and dance stories you win some, you lose some a proper little Nooryeff vogt marie : jill and the nutcracker Weyn suzanne : no way ballet serie white Constance : the ballet school mystery my list is finished I could publish another one of french books if anyone's interested some of my series are no complete : heart beats , no way ballet for ex , so if anyone can help me .... Quote Link to post
Guest dancinsweetie Posted May 9, 2004 Report Share Posted May 9, 2004 What a terrific list minty! I was just wondering....are all of these books aimed towerds all ages? Quote Link to post
Guest alescna Posted June 6, 2004 Report Share Posted June 6, 2004 i think someone has alreadi mentioned this one, by the Satin Slippers series by Elizabeth Bernard is the best! i really enjoyed when i was younger and a few months ago, i just re-read my entire collection of them (missing a few here and there!). Elizabeth Bernard was a dancer herself with the San Francisco Ballet, i think, and she gives girls who are starting out teh inspiration and insight into the ballet world... plus there's a glossary of ballet terms at the end of every book for non-ballet lovers... iw ould encourage everyone who could find this to give it a go! Quote Link to post
Giselle Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 A book I enjoyed was calledA Young Dancer's Appenticeship It's a true story about a 14 year old girl, Olympia something, who was excepted into a Russian ballet company. It's pretty interesting and there are lots great color pictures. Its probably in the young adult category, but anyone could read it. Giselle Quote Link to post
Guest twinkletoad5000 Posted June 10, 2004 Report Share Posted June 10, 2004 Although I have not yet read it, I have herd Corpse de Ballet is a good book. It is a murder/suspence novel. I belive the auther is Ellen Pall. On amazon.com you can read the back cover and the synopsis. This is deffinatly one I will be reading at my SI this summer! Quote Link to post
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