Books like Basic Principles of Classical Ballet by Agrippina Yakovlevna Vaganova

A young girl describes her ballet class which meets twice a week.

"Everyone with an interest in dance will have felt the need for a guide to the art's rich history and complex present. Susan Au's text covers the whole subject, vividly describing the great performers and performances of the past as well as exploring in detail the dance world of today. A generous selection of illustrations completes the picture, taking the reader from the palaces of the Medici to the lofts of Manhattan, from the dancing of Louis XIV to the experimental choreography of Twyla Tharp and Pina Bausch.". "A new final chapter-documents the work of the chief dancers and choreographers from the 1980s to the present, covering offshoots of modern dance such as Tanztheater and Butoh, recent developments in performance art and site-specific choreography, and the upsurge in popularity of dances of the past. In addition, the author records the uses dance and dancers have made of recent technological advances, including cinedance and videodance, CD-ROMs and the Internet."--BOOK JACKET.

"Ballet: From the First Plie to Mastery is designed as a complement to a beginning student's ballet training. The book opens with a brief description of the benefits of ballet training to young dancers, and then introduces fundamentals and precepts of the technique. Clear photographs show exactly how to execute each movement. Then an eight-year course is presented, taking the student from age 5 or 6 through the teen years, outlining exactly what is to be taught and how it is to be performed. A glossary, bibliography, and discography close the book.". "Young girls - and increasingly boys - are drawn to ballet training as a way of developing healthy musculature and bones, building an aesthetic awareness, and enhancing body image. Paskevska believes that - when performed correctly - ballet can provide a lifetime of artistic and physical pleasure. Shunning pyrotechnics and flashy technique, the book offers a solid grounding in the basics of ballet movement that will serve the student well, whether or not she or he chooses to continue training. Through her comprehensive examination of the how, why, and when of performing basic ballet techniques, Paskevska offers a concise and easy-to-follow regimen for everyone from the beginning to more advanced dancer." "For ballet students, their parents, and their teachers, Ballet: From the First Plie to Mastery is an invaluable first step toward enjoying dance and excelling as a dancer."--BOOK JACKET.

Explore ten eminent ballet masters through interviews and class observations, revealing their unique teaching philosophies, methods, and signature exercises.