balletbum74 Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Right now I'm reading Footnotes by Frank Augustyn which offers background knowledge on ballet and different dancer's experinces. I was wondering if there were any good books out there about specific ballets or life as a profesional dancer. Any info would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment
Clara 76 Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Try this link- there are many good suggestions! Dance Books/Dance Magazines Quote Link to comment
Guest pointe_shoes Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 I just finished reading The ballet companion by Eliza Gaynor Minden , very good full of tips and stories and so on.. You should Check it out! Quote Link to comment
Bluenightdipper Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 You beat me to the question balletbum74. I was also going to ask if anyone was aware of any good pointe "text books"?. I have already tried to get a copy of The ballet companion by Eliza Gaynor Minden and I swear it is a rare as hens teeth here. i have already waited two months. Quote Link to comment
balletboy101 Posted March 5, 2006 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 Maos Last Dancer by Li Cuxin Quote Link to comment
balletbum74 Posted March 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2006 I have already tried to get a copy of The ballet companion by Eliza Gaynor Minden and I swear it is a rare as hens teeth here. i have already waited two months. Bluenightdipper, Two months?!? That's crazy . I saw an excerpt on developpes in Pointe magazine and I was impressed. She covered many details and gave very helpful advice. Do think I should attempt to order it through a bookstore or online? Good Luck with getting your copy! Quote Link to comment
Clara 76 Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Here in the U.S., try Amazon. If they've got it in stock, it shouldn't take but about a week! Quote Link to comment
Guest Raedyn L. Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Well, I've always liked Ballet for Dummies (humour and ballet... awesome combination! And it's by Evelyn Cisneros!). It's very informative, but sadly enough it doesn't say anything about pointe except that beginning dancers should not do it. Quote Link to comment
Clara 76 Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Welcome to Ballet talk for dancers, Raedyn L.! Please feel free to introduce yourself on the official Welcome Forum, and have fun looking around!!! Clara 76 Quote Link to comment
PrettyonPointe45 Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 I got Classical Ballet Technique by Gretchen Ward Warren for Christmas. It has lots of wonderful information about ballet, although it's a bit pricey, it's completey worth it. Quote Link to comment
thedancingj Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 Allegra Kent (former Balanchine muse in case you didn't know!) has an autobiography out called "Once a Dancer" that's a really fun read. I've met her in person a few times, and she is a very crazy and cool lady, and she had a fabulous writing style as well. She still writes articles for Dance and Pointe every now and then... I read one of those book on classical ballet technique when I was about 15 and found one page that detailed the "ideal ballet body". Most of it was no surprise, but I was very startled and confused to see that ballerinas were supposed to have a "small and neat head". I couldn't imagine what they meant by "neat", but I spent the next year trying to figure out whether my head was big or small!! In the end I decided it was BIG and was depressed about it!! In retrospect that was the most ridiculous concern EVER... you shouldn't worry about silly things like that that you can't control! Quote Link to comment
lampwick Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 I love Allegra Kent's book. I've read it like...5 times. Small head and long neck can make you feel like a giraffe and look goofy, anyway I feel like a neck with a bubble at the end. My dad still buys baseball hats in "youth" sizes. Whole dad's side of the family has a silly small head. Is any dancer ever happy with thier body? Quote Link to comment
PrettyonPointe45 Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 In retrospect that was the most ridiculous concern EVER... you shouldn't worry about silly things like that that you can't control! I think it's just because that book was written a pretty long time ago, if it was the same one I mentioned. Plus, I don't think anyone has the perfect dancer body. Quote Link to comment
duhitsnicolette Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 I just finished this awesome book, but i cant rember what it was called so when i figure it out i will tell you ! the book was so inspiring , that i felt like nothing ever could be as bad as what that girl went through! Quote Link to comment
tillie Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 Well i just got a book called The Ballet Book: Learning and Appreciating the Secrets of Dance and its by Nancy ellison. Its no really a book about technique but it was basically behind the scenes of the American Ballet Theater and it was just really interesting to see what goes on in such a prestigious company. Hope this was of some help. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.