Ballet Books

Book SynopsisFrom the author of Miss You comes Kate Eberlen's impossibly romantic second novel, Only You.One person is all it takes to change a lifetime . . . But how will you know if they’re the one?PresentLetty and Alf are the only English speakers at an Italian class in Rome, where they discover the language that really connects them is dance: Letty’s first love was ballet, while Alf was a junior ballroom champion. They come from different worlds, until the moment they waltz around the Piazza Navona, and everything changes. PastBut one moment can’t change the past, and it’s clear that Alf and Letty still have their secrets. What caused them to leave their lives behind in England? And who, or what, are they running from? As their relationship deepens, it becomes harder and harder to tell the truth . . .FutureWhen the unthinkable happens, Letty returns to London and Alf to Blackpool. Will they spend their lives apart, or discover a future together?'The book we all need right now. Charming, tender, funny – and sweet without being sickly, like the very best gelato – it's utterly glorious escapism.' – Veronica Henry, author of A Wedding at the Beach HutTrade ReviewOnly You is the book we all need right now. Charming, tender, funny -- and sweet without being sickly, like the very best gelato -- it's utterly glorious escapism. You will gulp it down more quickly than an Aperol Spritz on a hot summer's night. Perfetto! -- Veronica HenryKate Eberlen’s first book, Miss You, was a huge hit and Only You is just as compelling. Wildly romantic, touching and wise, it will keep you reading until dawn * Sunday Express/S Magazine *If romantic fiction is your cup of tea, you’ll love this touching story of a pair of 20-somethings who meet at a language school in Rome . . . Kate Eberlen’s previous book, Miss You, was a bestseller and Only You is just as good, with wonderful descriptions of Rome’s iconic landmarks * Independent *A gorgeous, uplifting romantic story with all the sparkle of a glass of Prosecco -- Fanny BlakeThe author of the brilliant Miss You is back with [another] read you’re sure to love . . . Exquisite * The Sun *If ever there was a time we needed to be swept off our feet and transported elsewhere, this is it. Cue Kate Eberlen's wonderfully romantic second novel, set in Rome . . . Perfectly plotted * Woman's Weekly *A love story with a difference and its ballroom dancing lead characters will charm fans of Strictly Come Dancing * Daily Express *I read it in a single day, savouring every moment but also breathless with wanting to know how it would end. And the clever twists! I didn’t see a single one coming. And the ending itself – I could have danced. I certainly cried. Just wonderful -- Joanna Nadin, author of The Queen of Bloody EverythingA beautiful love story * Bella Magazine *I loved it! I keep thinking about the characters and their lives. It’s wonderful to feel Kate’s passion for my beloved art form ballet. I felt touched in many ways reading this novel -- Marianela Nuñez, Prima Ballerina of The Royal BalletBeautifully realised and utterly beguiling -- Janet Ellis, author of How It WasImpossibly romantic * Sunday Post *While we’re all stuck at home, we need to be able to live and love vicariously so Only You, with its romantic Rome setting is just the thing for some literary escapism -- Sarra Manning, Red magazineA truly wonderful book. I loved it -- Alexandra Potter, author of Confessions of a Forty-Something F*ck Up

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Book SynopsisHope in a Ballet Shoe tells the story of Michaela DePrince. Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, she witnessed atrocities that no child ever should. Her father was killed by rebels and her mother died of famine. Sent to an orphanage, Michaela was mistreated and saw the brutal murder of her favourite teacher.Then Michaela and her best friend are adopted by an American couple, and Michaela begins to take dance lessons. But life in the States isn''t without difficulties. Unfortunately, tragedy can find its way to Michaela in America, too, and her past can feel like it''s haunting her. The world of ballet is a racist one, and Michaela has to fight for a place amongst the ballet elite, hearing the words ''America''s not ready for a black girl ballerina.''And yet . . . Today, Michaela DePrince is an international ballet star, dancing for The Dutch National Ballet at the age of nineteen. This is a heart-breaking, inspiring autobiography by a teenager who shows us tha

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Book SynopsisEighteen, a dangerous age, when you have to cut your way into life. Mirrors, a piano. Erotic reflections, practice, ritual. Not an ordinary career, ballet. And for Elaine, possessed by ambition, sees everything she craves in the exquisite Beverley Soames - success and more... Watching, imitating, borrowing. There's no threat in that, is there?Trade ReviewHard edged, striking and truthful, Novelist Julian Rathbone; Poignant and believable, Averil Ashfield, Transworld Books; A great gift for portraying the agonies and ecstasies of adolescence. A rare talent, Writer Frederick E Smith; Holds the tension like a perfect arabesque, Gill Kay Ingenu/e Magazine; I read it at a single sitting. Perceptive writing wonderfully spiked with bitchiness, Thriller writer Graham Hurley

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Book SynopsisIn her first health and fitness book, celebrated ballerina Misty Copeland shows you how to find the motivation to get healthier and stronger, and how to refine the body you were born with to be lean, strong and flexible, with step-by-step advice, meal plans, workout routines and words of inspiration.Misty offers her own time-tested, ballet-inspired movements that are perfect for women who want to lengthen and strengthen, but don''t want to run a marathon or lift weights. She also demonstrates the floor exercises that helped maintain her own ballerina body while recovering from an injury.Misty''s eating plan focuses on vegetables, fruits, plant fats, animal proteins and beneficial oils - all of which keep her energetic and in top shape. With simple and delicious recipes for Granola, Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad, Quick Salsa Chili, and even a Ballerina Smoothie, you''ll be satisfied and happy while getting leaner.To keep you motivated, Misty gives tips and wor

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Book SynopsisTHE BALLET COMPANION is the first complete, illustrated reference book for the dancer. With more than 150 stunning photographs of ballet greats Maria Riccetto and Benjamin Millepied demonstrating perfect execution of positions and steps, THE BALLET COMPANION brims with everything today''s dance student needs including: * Practical advice for getting started, such as finding the right teacher, fitting a pointe shoe, tying a ballet bun * Training safely through a sensible diet, injury prevention, and cross training with yoga and Pilates * Inside information on backstage and studio etiquette and auditioning * Technique secrets from stars of American Ballet Theatre * Glossaries and lavishly illustrated sidebars on ballet history and ''Must See'' ballets Whether a budding ballerina, serious student, or adult returning to ballet, dancers will find a graceful mix of ballet traditions and essential, new information.Trade Review"Everyone involved with or interested in ballet should read this book. Comprehensively researched and packed with valuable information, The Ballet Companion is a treasure-trove for ballet enthusiasts." -- Kirk Peterson, Ballet Master/Choreographer, American Ballet Theatre"This is the very book I would have loved to have discovered when I first started to study ballet." -- Allegra Kent, former Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet and author of Once a Dancer"This is the very book I would have loved to have discovered when I first started to study ballet." -- Allegra Kent, former principal dancer, New York City Ballet and author of Once a Dancer"Unique and comprehensive, this is a wonderful companion and guide for anybody who loves dance." -- Edward Villella, former principal dancer, New York City Ballet and founding artistic director, Miami City Ballet"Eliza Gaynor Minden captures our imagination, taking us into the magical world of ballet." -- David Howard, internationally acclaimed master teacher and coach"A superb reference book -- all the information today's students need but can't get just by taking class. Every dancer's library should have it." -- Angel Corella, principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre"This book is a broad canvas of the history, elements, and components of dance. It is must reading for those who love dance and wish to explore its functions and derivation." -- Melissa Hayden, former principal dancer New York City Ballet, faculty, North Carolina School of the Arts"This comprehensive guide to the world of ballet is a must-have for all dance enthusiasts." -- Gillian Murphy, Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre"A smorgasboerd of information about the world of ballet!" -- Alexandra Ansanellli, Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet"This offers a wealth of information as well as being extremely interesting." -- Mignon Furman, director, American Academy of Ballet

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Book SynopsisEva Ibbotson was born in Vienna in 1925 and fled to England with her family when the Nazis came to power. She became a writer while bringing up her four children in Newcastle. Her bestselling novels have been published and loved by readers around the world.Her novels for adults, all rich historical romances, convey her deep love of the arts, the Austrian countryside, and the importance of belonging.In 2001, her children's novel Journey to the River Sea won the Nestle Gold Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.Eva passed away peacefully in October 2010 at the age of eighty-five.

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Book SynopsisBoth a group biography and a story of a particular time, this is a book about ballet, the enduring allure of ballet for young girls, and about how these pioneers broke into a world that was closed to them and changed ideas of what a classical dancer could be.

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Book SynopsisDiscusses all basic principles of ballet, grouping movement by fundamental types. Diagrams show clearly the exact foot, leg, arm, and body positions for the proper execution of many steps and movements. Offers dancers, teachers, and ballet lovers information often difficult to locate in other books. 118 illustrations.

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Book SynopsisBrilliantly curated and beautifully illustrated, the Welcome to the Arts series offers all-hours admission to some of the world's most wondrous performances.From Swan Lake to Riverdance, flamenco to tap, Dance features some of the most iconic performances and popular dances from around the world. Learn about the history, culture, evolution and technique of each dance, while also discovering the stars of past and present, including Fred Astaire, Carlos Acosta, Martha Graham and much more. Exclusive backstage access also allows you to see what goes on behind the theatre doors, including prop and costume design.Expertly written by Sir Alistair Spalding and published in conjunction with Sadler's Wells, this beautifully illustrated book is also a large format, so the whole family can be immersed in the wonderful world of dance.The perfect gift for any Strictly fan, musical lover or budding dancer.Trade ReviewPut on your dancing shoes and waltz, shimmy and tap your way through a spectacular reading journey in the pages of one of this year's most dazzling books....A book for all the family to treasure! * Lancashire Evening Post *A beautiful read. * Woman's Weekly *A showstopper that practically demands applause. -- Lucy Bannerman * The Times *An oversized thrilling introduction to all forms of dance [...] it's a superb gift for dance lovers aged eight-plus. -- Imogen Russell-Williams * Metro *

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Book SynopsisWritten with the full backing and expertise of the renowned Royal Academy of Dancing and following the international ballet examination syllabus, this is an updated edition of the bestselling Ballet Class.

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Book SynopsisIn his intimate memoir, legendary ballet dancer and entertainer Wayne Sleep looks back on the extraordinary times he''s lived through. Wayne Sleep has danced with ballet legends Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, partied with Freddie Mercury and performed with Princess Diana, becoming her close friend. Behind the glitz and glamour, Wayne has always felt like an outsider. Sleep reveals the difficulties for a working-class, gay man in handling the prejudices of his generation and living through the Aids epidemic. Wayne was also the shortest principal dancer in the Royal Ballet - he had to spin twice as fast and jump twice as high to succeed. In this moving - but also laugh-out-loud and gossip filled - memoir, Wayne Sleep shows how he danced his way to success, fulfilment and love, and how he overcame obstacles and prejudice along the way.

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Book SynopsisRaised in a desperately poor village during the height of China''s Cultural Revolution, Li Cunxin''s childhood revolved around the commune, his family and Chairman Mao''s Little Red Book. Until, that is, Madame Mao''s cultural delegates came in search of young peasants to study ballet at the academy in Beijing and he was thrust into a completely unfamiliar world. When a trip to Texas as part of a rare cultural exchange opened his eyes to life and love beyond China''s borders, he defected to the United States in an extraordinary and dramatic tale of Cold War intrigue. Told in his own distinctive voice, this is Li''s inspirational story of how he came to be Mao''s last dancer, and one of the world''s greatest ballet dancers.Trade Review'An inspiring true story of courage and determination' - Adeline Yen Mah, author of 'Falling Leaves' 'His vivid descriptions of life at home, surviving on family love and dried yams, and of the harsh regime, make riveting reading' Guardian 'Mao's Last Dancer is a modern fairy-tale. Li Cunxin's story is a breathtaking indictment of brute Communism, told with great honesty' - Kate Adie 'Appalling, brave and funny ... you cannot do better than to read this book' Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Apollo's Angels, the first major biography of the figure who modernised dance: an intimate portrait of the man behind the mythology, set against the vibrant backdrop of the century that shaped him

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Book SynopsisCan ballet ever be reconciled with feminist ideals?Trade Review'Beautiful, difficult, and compelling.' —Vanity Fair'Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, the book weaves [Robb’s] early experiences as a dancer with those of her contemporaries, and of famous ballerinas… Don’t Think, Dear is powered by a fundamental love of the art form while exposing the toxic culture that runs through it.' —Guardian‘[Robb’s] timely book is a critical yet personal examination of classical ballet – a performing art highly dependent on the talent of women – filtered through the lens of 21st-century feminism… she brings a welcome academic rigour to a subject clearly born of deeply held emotions.’ —The Times'A study of an obsession remarkable for its nuance and insight… [Robb] succeeds in conveying, in a refreshingly unromantic way, what is still valuable about the art form… It might be easy… to assume that Don’t Think, Dear is Robb’s litany of grievances about a demanding art form in which she failed to flourish. Rather, it is a book about love, even if that love is ultimately unrequited… fascinating.' —TLS‘[A] nuanced, intimate mashup of memoir, reportage and cultural criticism.’ —Observer'This addictive memoir is a vital account of the intoxicating appeal of ballet as an art form. Alice Robb tells the story of ballet in the twentieth century through her experience at the School of American Ballet and the cult-like legacy of its founding choreographer, George Balanchine, who dictated the lives of "his" dancers – shaping their bodies, selecting their perfumes, haunting their dreams – inspiring obsession and regret. We are left with the question: can the pursuit of ballet perfection justify the suffering depicted in this book?' —Rebecca May Johnson, author of Small Fires'This riveting memoir-meets-critical-appraisal examines classical ballet, revealing it to be less career, more cult — and as psychologically and physically brutal as it is beautiful.' —Daily Mail'Don’t Think, Dear is part memoir, part investigation, and enthralling whether or not you have any knowledge of ballet.' —New Statesman'Weaving together Robb’s own story with her fellow students and ballet icons such as Misty Copeland and Margot Fonteyn, it’s an overdue contemporary re-examination of this gruelling artform.' —Independent, 'Books to Look Forward to in 2023''Robb, who studied at the School of American Ballet in New York until the age of twelve, is the perfect guide, her insider insights balanced by the observations of outsiders and leavened with darts of self-effacing humour… The details are visceral and grimly compelling.’ —Literary Review'A rigorous yet loving examination of a childhood passion told through a feminist lens. Don’t Think, Dear is full of clarity, even about questions that will never get completely clear answers.' —Rebecca Traister, author of Good and Mad'I don’t think I’ve ever felt so seen by an author: Alice Robb says aloud the conundrums I’ve been wrestling with since adolescence but wasn’t able to put into words. Her storytelling prowess and sharp analysis help contextualize my own experience in the ballet in a way I didn’t realize I needed. I wouldn’t trust anyone but Alice Robb in handling a subject so close to my heart.' —Sophie Flack, author of Bunheads'Don’t Think, Dear is an extraordinary book full of poignant storytelling and profound insights. Robb masterfully weaves memoir, reportage, and criticism into a superbly crafted meditation on ballet and its broader cultural impact.' —Marisa Meltzer, author of Glossy and This is Big'With intelligence and grace, Alice Robb offers a history of American ballet through the lens of her own nuanced, intimate relationship with a legendary New York City institution. Neither romanticising or decrying the dance world, Robb beautifully explores the push-pull of masochism and perfectionism – preoccupations not just relevant to aspiring dancers, but to anyone who's ever pursued an almost-impossible dream.' —Ada Calhoun, author of Why We Can't Sleep'Here is a memoir, a love letter, a cultural history, and a long-awaited reckoning of the most iconic feminine ideal. Robb's intimate and frank examination of ballet's legacy – both in and outside of studios and performance halls—shows us all the many ways it continues to shape our lives and bodies. Chapter to chapter, this book is both brutal and beautiful, like its subject.' —Sarah Gerard, author of Sunshine State and True Love

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Book SynopsisPerfect twins. Perfect victims. Trade Review'Clara & Olivia dances with historical details, with unease and atmosphere. You can feel the mist of the London canals, hear the ballet shoes touching the stage.' Abigail Dean, author of Girl A‘This unsettling tale… As the story follows the rehearsals for the ballet Coppelia, we receive a quick-fire education on how the ballet works and why it inspires obsession… An original thriller with a crafty plot.’ Daily Mail'This book was a joy to read from start to finish. Ashe's writing is razor-sharp with a lyrical edge to it, and there were times when I wished I could write just as well. Rich, mesmerising and compelling, Clara & Olivia heralds the arrival of a bright new voice in literary fiction. This one will have the cash registers ringing.' Awais Khan, author of No Honour‘A spellbinding thriller, set against a fascinating background and so beautifully written.’ Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest Man'Lucy has created a mesmerising atmosphere in her debut novel. This story is one of dreadful, delirious ambition as well as the relentless drive for perfection - both as a woman and a performer - that cannot be sustained. Every violent act is a protest against this paralysing perfection. Beautiful.' Sally Oliver, author of The Weight of Loss'Vividly rich and full of depth... A compellingly chilling work by a debut author who makes storytelling look easy. An expertly crafted filmic depiction of gritty twin leads desperate to succeed in these dark streets while harbouring even darker motivations. A novel that entraps you within its web of sinister secrets; I pirouetted from page to page desperate to know what happens. This book has everything and I will be recommending it to everybody.' Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of The 392‘Ashe trained with the Royal Ballet School, and she is fascinating on the detail of the girls’ lives; on the pain and the bloodied feet that underpin the perfection of the dance... A wonderful, eye-opening debut.’ Times'Haunting and richly evocative, Clara & Olivia takes the reader on a spell-binding journey through the 1930s London ballet scene, in which the beauty and elegance of the participants is the flip side of a destructive drive for perfection and darkly murderous obsessions. Lucy Ashe’s debut is absolutely en pointe.' Lexie Elliott, author of How to Kill Your Best Friend'Lucy Ashe’s debut novel is a clever thriller set in a world which she knows so well, having trained at the Royal Ballet School and being a twin... Take a bow, Ms Ashe.' Historical Novel Review'Clara and Olivia is a delight, a book that is at times historical fiction, at times a love story to ballet, and at times even a bit of a thrilling whodunit.' Bookbag‘Quite a debut, very assured and confident… A wonderfully told story which will appeal to a wide range of people because of the interesting characters and a strong plot threaded throughout.’ @emreadsthebooks

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Book SynopsisAn unputdownable tale of obsession, jealousy and heartache against the backdrop of WW2Trade Review'This was such a well-written and gripping read and I was completely in awe of how Ashe kept me guessing with the story’s twists. You will not be able to put it down!' Stacey Thomas, author of The Revels 'A compelling novel with a twist that you won't see coming! It completely arrested my attention and I couldn't stop reading until I'd devoured every single page.' Awais Khan, author of No Honour'Rich with historical detail and high-stakes drama. Mesmerising.' Alice Robb, author of Don't Think, Dear'An enchanting mix of historical fiction, fairy tale, and above all, ballet novel. Ashe's ballet background shines through as her dancers come to life... Well researched, but communicated with a light touch. Recommended for anyone who ever dreamed of becoming a dancer.' Laura Shepperson, author of Sunday Times bestseller The Heroines'A wonderfully compelling, truly competent thriller... Rarely have I been so keen to uncover the truth. Simply excellent.' Historical Novel Society'Lucy Ashe has done it again - a beautiful, intriguing historical novel... Rich and compelling... This is a novel to sink into and luxuriate in.' Cailean Steed, author of Home

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 2023 From the author of Apollo's Angels, the first major biography of the figure who modernised dance: an intimate portrait of the man behind the mythology, set against the vibrant backdrop of the century that shaped him Balanchine's radical approach to choreography reinvented the art of dance and his richly evocative ballets made him a lasting legend. Today, nearly thirty years after his death, the man is still so revered that the mysteries of his biography are often overlooked. Who was George Balanchine? Born in Russia under the last Czar, Balanchine experienced the upheavals of World War One, the Russian Revolution, exile, World War Two and the cultural Cold War; he was part of the Russian modernist moment, a key player in Paris in the 1920s, and in New York he revolutionized ballet, pressing it to the forefront of modernism and making it serious and popular art. His influences were myriad. He considered himself Georgian, yet he did not step foot in his ancestral homeland until he was in his fifties. He was deeply influenced by the cold grandeur and sensuous beauty of the Orthodox Church, but equally absorbed by the new rhythms and dance steps coming out of Harlem in the 1930s. He collaborated broadly, with figures like Diaghilev and Stravinsky. A man of muses, Balanchine was married five times, always to young dancers, and consumed by many other loves in between. The difficulties of his life - personal losses, bouts of ill health, debilitating loneliness and dark moods of despair - resonate in his dances, which speak so poignantly of love and loss, and yet the full implications for his art remain unexplored. Now for the first time we look beyond the myth of 'Mr B' - the mask which Balanchine himself helped to create - to see 'Mr B' the man.Trade ReviewWith unique expertise in dance and what it means to dance, Jennifer Homans shows rare insider understanding of Balanchine's inexhaustible creativity... A magnificent and enthralling biography with an epic historical sweep, inflected by the poignancy and sensitivity of an intimate literary portrait * Marina Warner *One of the best stories of a Petersburger coming to America I've ever read. This isn't dutiful biography, this is literature as vibrant and alive as Balanchine's art * Gary Shteyngart, author Our Country Friends and Super Sad True Love Story *Jennifer Homans has not only resurrected George Balanchine down to the perfumed silk foulard, offering up a life of fairy-tale turns and tenacious demons, of prodigious imagination and impossible standards, of five wives and the slew of almost-wives. She has restored the Russia that disappeared out from behind Balanchine and the lush mirage that endured. More remarkably, she pins dance to the page with the precision, intensity, and range her subject prized. The result is lyrical and commanding, among the most electrifying pas de deux you're likely to find on the biography shelf. -- Stacy Schiff * winner of the Pulitzer Prize, New York Times bestselling author of The Witches and Cleopatra *Jennifer Homans's meticulously researched Mr. B gives us an artist who is as complicated, and even flawed, as he was groundbreaking and brilliant. It is a fascinating read about a true genius and his unrelenting thirst for beauty in art and in life -- Mikhail BaryshnikovNo previous biography of George Balanchine has caught so many of the disparate layers of this superlative choreographer to such revelatory effect -- Alastair Macaulay, Chief Dance Critic * The New York Times *Perfectly calibrated, sympathetic where necessary, fearlessly critical elsewhere, and a much-needed demolition of the Mr. B myths - the flawed genius tropes - that manages, in energetic, evocative prose, to enhance the intellectual and spiritual powers of Balanchine's ballets and the art overall -- Simon Morrison, author of Bolshoi Confidential: Secrets of the Russian Ballet from the Rule of the Tsars to TodayI'm entranced by Homans's chief gifts: her ability to pin a character instantly on the page, bringing to bear the back story and even more distinctively, her own ballet training infusing the story with a rare physicality. Then too there is the deftness of conveying Mr B.'s flaws of cruelty, caprice and autocracy without undermining his art.... Extraordinary -- Lyndall GordonA sensitive, stately and often thrilling new biography of the Russian-born choreographer George Balanchine... Mr B. is a serious act of cultural retrieval, by a writer who knows when to expand and when to collapse, who makes unexpected connections, and who knows when her subject pinches, borrows or steals. The critic, historian and dancer in Homans are nearly always in sync * The New York Times *

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Book SynopsisFor decades the prominent image of a ballet dancer has been a white body with pale clothing. It took 75 years for American Ballet Theatre to have its first African American female principal dancer, Misty Copeland. When TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian went to enrol her three-year-old daughter into her first ballet class, she immediately saw this lack of diversity and representation-even on her local dance studio''s website. Within weeks TaKiyah, a freelance photographer, began shooting a project she called Brown Girls Do Ballet, which eventually became an Instagram hit and a non-profit organization that provides resources, mentorship, inspiration, and encouragement to young dancers of colour worldwide.For her first book, The Color of Dance, TaKiyah travelled around the United States seeking out dancers of African, Asian, East Indian, Hispanic, and Native American ancestry. With these more than 190 breath-taking images of colourful ballerinas of all ages and levels, both

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Book SynopsisStyle meets movement: a new photography book featuring more than eighty of today''s most famous dancers, captured in movement and styled in garments designed by some of fashion''s biggest names.From renowned photographers Ken Browar and Deborah Ory, the husband-and-wife team behind NYC Dance Project and the best-selling photography book The Art of Movement, comes their follow-up book for fans of dance, fashion, and photography. Spotlighting today''s greatest dancers--from ballet to modern--in clothing by today''s and yesterday''s most celebrated designers, this stunning volume takes the relationship between style, fashion, and dance as its subject. The dancers bring the pages to life with their grace and movement, becoming one with what they''re wearing. Whether in couture gowns from Dior, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, vintage Halston, Moschino, and Bill Blass, or in costumes designed by Martha Graham herself, the world-renowned dancers featured in these pages--inTrade Review"Bringing together fashion and dance, The Style of Movement is the latest book by Ken Browar and Deborah Ory of NYC Dance Project. The husband-and-wife team has photographed some of today’s top modern and ballet dancers in the United States, pairing them with incredible costumes that are brought to life through their movement. The ebb and flow of each piece of clothing is on full display with every flick of the wrist or jeté, and the duo expertly captures it all through their lens."—MY MODERN MET

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Book SynopsisBallet is a breathtaking photographic collection, celebrating the precision, athleticism and artistry of classical and contemporary ballet. Live performances allow us to admire ballet's visual splendour from afar, but rarely are we given the opportunity to study dynamic poses, leaps and lifts in intimate, close-up detail. An inspirational companion for dance aficionados, performing arts enthusiasts and keen photographers, Ballet captures awe-inspiring moments performed by the art form's most remarkable talents. Leo Mason's arresting images provide a unique glimpse into the world of ballet and its superstars, featuring a cast of former and current principal dancers including Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Vadim Muntagirov, Daria Klimentova and Ivan Vasiliev. With over 40 years' experience as a sports and dance photographer, Leo recreates the beauty and seemingly effortless nature of the discipline - made even more remarkable by the gruelling training required to achieve perfection - and often uses exposure creatively to capture movement and compose striking images. Each photograph is accompanied by a detailed caption, providing information on the performers, work, location and date, along with technical specifications regarding camera equipment, exposure and aperture. Includes images of: Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Vadim Muntagirov, Daria Klimentova and Ivan Vasiliev at the Royal Opera House, Sadler's Wells and the London Coliseum.

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Book SynopsisA guide to ballroom dancing. It includes all the main ballroom dances, along with versions of most dances approved for championships. There are diagrams showing every step from both the male and female perspective. This tenth edition is revised and updated.

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Book Synopsis***THE TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER***'A dazzling psychological thriller' - Sunday Times'Deliciously sinister and obsessive ... with one hell of a twist' - Observer'Twist follows twist, like The Red Shoes rewritten by Patricia Highsmith' - Mail onSunday'It seems so effortless .. it's brilliant and you really do not guess what's coming' - VirginRadio, Graham Norton'Expect deceit, duplicity and one hell of a twist!' - RED'Kelly's best yet ... Genius twists and turns' - Good Housekeeping'Erin Kelly is at the top of her game. A seriously clever, and humane, novel' - SARAH VAUGHANI WATCHED HER RISEAva has devoted her life to being the best at what she does. Now sheTrade ReviewWatch Her Fall is a triumph of storytelling, full of swooping passion and explosive twists that will take your breath away. I was entranced from the first page, losing my heart to the characters and swept up in their stories which were seamlessly intertwined in the way only a writer at the height of her powers can achieve. An absolute joy of a book * Sarah Hilary *In what I believe is her best book to date, Erin Kelly leaps into the dark and enchanting world of Russian ballet with a dancer's precision. The mesmeric tale of Ava Kirilova unfolds like the darkest and most delicious fairytale. I read it in two sittings and found myself enraptured, transported, spun around and left dizzy by the final page * Charlotte Philby, bestselling author of Part of the Family and A Double Life *An immersive, addictive thriller set in the high-stakes world of ballet, with a jolting twist you absolutely won't see coming * Claire McGowan, author of The Other Wife *Just finished Watch Her Fall - an elegant thriller set around the secretive world of elite Russian ballet. Powerful, ingenious and EXCITING. Loved peeking behind the curtain and learning about Swan Lake. Memorable characters and gasp-out-loud twists. SUPERB! * Will Dean *Kelly's characters could walk into a room and take a seat next to you and you'd know who they were, and her plots are the smartest in the industry, but with this one she somehow captured the intense, constrained, sinister world of ballet. I absolutely loved it * Gillian McAllister, author of Sunday Times bestseller How to Disappear *A captivating hall of mirrors of a novel, where nothing and no one is as they seem * Paula Hawkins, bestselling author of The Girl on the Train *I would read a shopping list from Erin Kelly, if it were set in the same rarified, cut-throat world in which she has set her latest novel. Watch Her Fall is not only a cleverly plotted, beautifully written thriller; it is also a mesmerising glimpse behind the curtain into a world few of us will ever see * Clare Mackintosh *Think Black Swan meets Killing Eve, with the most brilliant twist * Grazia Online *Superbly dark, gloriously twisted and utterly seductive - this is Erin Kelly at her mind-bending best * Ruth Ware *Kelly's pirouetting plot is up there with her best * Daily Express *Erin Kelly plunges readers into the highly competitive world of ballet in Watch Her Fall * Sunday Express S Magazine *Thriller queen Kelly is back with a new novel about a dancer at the London Ballet Company . . . Think Black Swan but in book form * Cosmopolitan *Bestselling crime novelist Kelly returns with a dark tale of obsession and ambition set in a prestigious ballet company and based around the story of Swan Lake * ipaper *Immerse yourself in the claustrophobic, competitive world of ballet. Beautifully dark and complex. So good! * Jane Fallon *The new addictive thriller of 2021 . . . Gripping with a devilish twist * Alice O’Keeffe *This was a wild ride! Erin Kelly's new book Watch Her Fall is a thrilling high-wire of twists and switchbacks! Brilliant * Marian Keyes *Watch Her Fall is a terrifically absorbing novel, rich in atmosphere, style and surprises - Erin Kelly once again leads her readers on a dark and merry dance, and they'll love her for it * Sarah Perry *Glitters with dark brilliance and portrays the complex, painful world of ballet with great authenticity. I loved it! * Kate Rhodes *This thriller is being described as Killing Eve meets Black Swan - how amazing does that sound? Set in the world of ballet, it's about two rival dancers and the lengths they go to to get to the top * Good Housekeeping ‘Books to Watch in 2021’ *Watch Her Fall is an absolute masterclass in misdirection, the kind of book that you finish and then turn straight back to the beginning to see how on earth she did it . . . A central twist so ingenious that this reader gasped out loud . . . The pressured, high-stakes world of professional ballet is brilliantly evoked . . . The brilliant Watch Her Fall will take some beating * Alice O'Keeffe, The Bookseller *Watch Her Fall dances with artistic passion and intrigue, beauty and pain; the plot pirouettes in ways that leave you breathless. More than an exciting read - it is a dazzling performance. Brava, Erin Kelly! * Rachel Edwards *Twisty and brilliant and completely absorbing - not only a masterclass of a thriller but also sneakily profound about identity, ambition and greed * Bridget Collins *Watch Her Fall is Erin Kelly's most ambitious and captivating book to date, an absolutely enthralling look at the dark underbelly of the ballet world, built into a shifting narrative of time and place that was so thrilling and unexpected that it made my head spin * Lisa Jewell *It's awfully gripping and beautifully written * Marian Keyes for OK! Magazine *set in the cut-throat world of ballet - the perfect backdrop for a twisty thriller that's sure to leave you breathless * Woman & Home *With its compelling arena, this dark thriller executes a fouetté turn half way through that will leave you breathless * Heat *This multi-layered, deftly written thriller set in the cut-throat world of ballet has all the ingredients of a must-read . . . Expect deceit and duplicity and one hell of a twist! * Red *With major Black Swan vibes, this thriller is one of the best books we've read this year * Claire Frost for Sun on Sunday Fabulous *Full of intrigue and secrets, this is set in the dazzling and claustrophobic ballet world * Nina Pottell for Prima *Kelly offers a nuanced account of the lengths to which dancers will go - or are driven to - when ambition is transmuted into obsession . . . Ava is a fascinating blend of control, power, and precision in the public sphere, but who is privately plagued by neuroses . . . A noir pas-de-deux that overflows with femmes fetales, but one written with a compassionate understanding of the intolerable pressures ballerinas must learn to live with * Irish Times *I was utterly immersed in this rarefied but cut-throat world. From the first page I was wrapped up in Ava's swooping, all-consuming passion and totally gripped by the explosive twists which held me to the very last page * Adele Parks for Platinum *A clever and brilliant thriller * Bella *Kelly's best yet . . . Genius twists and turns * Good Housekeeping *A dark, brilliant read with the most amazing twist * Closer *Twist follows twist, like The Red Shoes rewritten by Patricia Highsmith * Mail On Sunday *It seems so effortless . . . it's brilliant and you really do not guess what's coming * Virgin Radio Graham Norton *This dark and enticing thriller transports you on a journey filled with ingenious twists and turns at every corner. Just when you think you know what's happening, you realise everything is perhaps not quite as it seems, and you really won't predict what's coming. Packed with secrets, lies and mistaken identities, Watch Her Fall is a real crowd-pleaser that keeps you on your toes * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *The dark side of Swan Lake has inspired many books and films but this one will probably rate as one of the most original . . . Kelly's depiction of this claustrophobic and ambitious world is brutally convincing and her silky prose makes this an easy read. You don't have to be a dance expert to enjoy it * Daily Mail *The author is known for her twisty, turny tales and this one showcases her great storytelling brilliantly * The Sun *Set in a world of ambition and rivalry where someone is watching from the wings, the most shocking twists and secrets are revealed * Crime Monthly *Kelly's shapeshifting novel is by turns a social comedy, heist caper and whodunnit while remaining a dazzling psychological thriller * The Times *This is a twisty, emotional, intriguing account of minds and bodies under supreme stress * Literary Review *Watch Her Fall is Kelly's most ambitious novel yet, with one of her trademark clever, twisty plots, rendered twistier than ever * Sunday Independent (Ireland) *A new psychological thriller by Erin Kelly is always cause for celebration. And thankfully her trademarks - murky domestic setups, morally ambiguous protagonists on the verge of cracking, and a strong sense of place - are all present and correct in Watch Her Fall * Buzz Magazine *Kelly paints a picture of a claustrophobic, rarefied, piercingly lonely world . . . Deliciously sinister and obsessive . . . with one hell of a twist -- Review by Alison Flood as one of her Thrillers of the Month * Observer *Cleverly constructed . . . a curtain call and bouquets all round -- James Owen * The Times *A whipsmart novel set in the world of top-flight ballet . . . The plot twists are abundant, the prose eloquent and vivid, but it's the relationship between Juliet and Max that gives the novel its beating heart. Your hope that the pair can find some form of happiness will keep you glued to this classy thriller -- Charlotte Heathcote * Daily Express *Psychological crime is the speciality of British writer Erin Kelly, and Watch Her Fall is a prime example of her work . . . this is bravura fare, with the ballet company depicted as a toxic world akin to that in the 2010 film Black Swan * Financial Times *Another chilling read from best-selling writer Erin Kelly * Hello! *Impressive and beguiling psychological thriller * The Big Issue *Told from several viewpoints in acts and interludes, the plot cleverly mirrors the story of the ballet. With some surprising twists and unexpected turns, it's a good psychological thriller * Choice Magazine *Erin Kelly brings the claustrophobic atmosphere of a ballet company brilliantly to life in a well-paced thriller with a killer twist * Irish Independent *A stunner of a twist that's so unexpected that it will change the whole way you view the plot and its damaged characters . . . With suspense and intensity, Kelly explores the dark internal battles that ballerinas go through behind the curtain, but don't be fooled into thinking this is your typical Black Swan copycat rivalry-thriller. Watch Her Fall has hidden layers and a surprising emotional depth too . . . It is without doubt Erin Kelly's best novel yet * CultureFly *Addictive . . . switches skilfully between perspectives, and there's a clever twist that'll make you gasp * Cosmopolitan *A shout from the rooftops type of book, and this is so special, I may be there for some time! * LoveReading *A brilliant character study as a young woman's ambition gradually transforms into a lethal obsession * Irish Times, Books of the Year *A twisty psychological thriller set at a ballet company; shades of Black Swan * Irish Examiner, picked by Louise O'Neill as one of her Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisPerfect twins. Perfect victims. Trade Review'Clara & Olivia dances with historical details, with unease and atmosphere. You can feel the mist of the London canals, hear the ballet shoes touching the stage.' Abigail Dean, author of Girl A‘This unsettling tale… As the story follows the rehearsals for the ballet Coppelia, we receive a quick-fire education on how the ballet works and why it inspires obsession… An original thriller with a crafty plot.’ Daily Mail'This book was a joy to read from start to finish. Ashe's writing is razor-sharp with a lyrical edge to it, and there were times when I wished I could write just as well. Rich, mesmerising and compelling, Clara & Olivia heralds the arrival of a bright new voice in literary fiction. This one will have the cash registers ringing.' Awais Khan, author of No Honour‘A spellbinding thriller, set against a fascinating background and so beautifully written.’ Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest Man'Lucy has created a mesmerising atmosphere in her debut novel. This story is one of dreadful, delirious ambition as well as the relentless drive for perfection - both as a woman and a performer - that cannot be sustained. Every violent act is a protest against this paralysing perfection. Beautiful.' Sally Oliver, author of The Weight of Loss'Vividly rich and full of depth... A compellingly chilling work by a debut author who makes storytelling look easy. An expertly crafted filmic depiction of gritty twin leads desperate to succeed in these dark streets while harbouring even darker motivations. A novel that entraps you within its web of sinister secrets; I pirouetted from page to page desperate to know what happens. This book has everything and I will be recommending it to everybody.' Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of The 392‘Ashe trained with the Royal Ballet School, and she is fascinating on the detail of the girls’ lives; on the pain and the bloodied feet that underpin the perfection of the dance... A wonderful, eye-opening debut.’ Times'Haunting and richly evocative, Clara & Olivia takes the reader on a spell-binding journey through the 1930s London ballet scene, in which the beauty and elegance of the participants is the flip side of a destructive drive for perfection and darkly murderous obsessions. Lucy Ashe’s debut is absolutely en pointe.' Lexie Elliott, author of How to Kill Your Best Friend'Lucy Ashe’s debut novel is a clever thriller set in a world which she knows so well, having trained at the Royal Ballet School and being a twin... Take a bow, Ms Ashe.' Historical Novel Review'Clara and Olivia is a delight, a book that is at times historical fiction, at times a love story to ballet, and at times even a bit of a thrilling whodunit.' Bookbag‘Quite a debut, very assured and confident… A wonderfully told story which will appeal to a wide range of people because of the interesting characters and a strong plot threaded throughout.’ @emreadsthebooks

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Book SynopsisThe unusual marriage of Romantic ballet and artificial intelligence is an intriguing idea that led a team of interdisciplinary researchers to design iGiselle, a video game prototype. Scholars in the fields of literature, physical education, music, design, and computer science collaborated to revise the tragic narrative of the nineteenth-century ballet Giselle, allowing players to empower the heroine for possible ”feminine endings.” The eight interrelated chapters chronicle the origin, development, and fruition of the project. Dancers, gamers, and computer specialists will all find something original that will stimulate their respective interests. Contributors: Vadim Bulitko, Wayne DeFehr, Christina Gier, Pirkko Markula, Mark Morris, Sergio Poo Hernandez, Emilie St. Hilaire, Nora Foster Stovel, Laura SydoraTrade Review# 4 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, March 10, 2019Table of ContentsPreface Revisioning Giselle as the Video Game iGiselle // Nora Foster Stovel Acknowledgements Introduction Recreating Giselle for the Twenty-First Century // Nora Foster Stovel I An Interdisciplinary Approach to Giselle 1 | The Creation of the Romantic Ballet Giselle The Ballerina’s Hamlet // Nora Foster Stovel 2 | “No Feminine Endings” Adolphe Adam’s Musical Score for Giselle // Christina Gier 3 | The Other Giselles Moncrieff’s Giselle; or, The Phantom Night Dancers, Loder’s The Night Dancers, and Puccini’s Le Villi // Mark Morris 4 | (Re)creating Giselle Narrative and the Ballerina // Laura Sydora II Creating iGiselle 5 | Artificial Intelligence for Managing the Interactive Ballet Video Game, iGiselle // Sergio Poo Hernandez & Vadim Bulitko 6 | Re-playing iGiselle Dance, Technology, and Interdisciplinary Creation // Emilie St. Hilaire 7 | Renewing Adolphe Adam’s Score Creating the Music for iGiselle // Wayne DeFehr 8 | The Ballet Body and Video Games A Feminist Perspective // Pirkko Markula Contributors 189 Index 193

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Book SynopsisDance Partnering Basics: Practical Skills and Inclusive Pedagogy With HKPropel Access presents easy-to-implement, technique-based partnering instruction for dancers of all ages. The exercises and techniques, which are broken down into parts and presented in a skill progression, from beginner to advanced, can be applied to a variety of dance forms. The book offers a plethora of tools to help dance educators in providing expert partnering instruction: 18 illustrated exercises that teach techniques, mechanics, and individual partnered skills; each exercise includes additional variations and explorations Tips for developing a partnering component and integrating it into an existing dance program or curriculum Related online materials delivered via HKPropel, including video clips demonstrating partnering exercises, vocabulary, questions for discussion and reflection, and assessments and rubrics to help assess student progress IncTable of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction to Dance PartneringChapter 2. Time: Getting Started Exercise 1: Grasp and Clasp Exercise 2: Trust Building Exercise 3: Active and Passive Exercise 4: Weight Sharing Exercise 5: Counterbalance Exercise 6: Shelves and LedgesChapter 3. Weight: Digging Deeper Exercise 7: Draping Exercise 8: Airplanes Exercise 9: Redirection and Leverage Exercise 10: Under, Over, and Through Exercise 11: Falling and Rocking Exercise 12: Assisted InversionsChapter 4. Energy and Flow: Activating Creativity Exercise 13: Hip Rides Exercise 14: Promenade Exercise 15: Traditional Lifts Exercise 16: Initiation and Suggestion Exercise17: Rolling Points Exercise 18: Me ScoreChapter 5. Space: Fostering Community and Inclusive Pedagogy

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Book SynopsisFollowing an unorthodox first meeting in London in 1964, Patricia Boccadoro got to know Rudolf Nureyev on a personal basis after she moved to live in Paris in the 1970s. In this amusing, informative book, she recounts how exciting it was to see him dance in those heady London years, during his legendary partnership with Margot Fonteyn, before giving a lucid account of his directorship of the Paris Opera Ballet, making it into one of the finest companies in the world. The book culminates with his legacy, demonstrating how, with his extreme intelligence, glamour and passion, he changed the image of the male dancer, making them the equal of the ballerina. Above all, the lively reminiscences of those closest to him, along with a selection of photographs, many rarely seen or unpublished, bring Rudolf to life, casting off the image of a temperamental superstar, and painting a true picture of the immensely kind, fun-loving man behind one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisLondon during the Blitz was a time of hardship, heroism and hope.For Gillian Lynne a budding ballerina it was also a time of great change as she was evacuated from war-torn London to a crumbling mansion, where dance classes took place in the faded ballroom.Life was hard, but her talent and dedication shone through and an astonishing journey ensued, which saw Gillian dancing a triumphant debut in Swan Lake, performing in the West End with doodlebugs falling and touring a devastated Europe entertaining the troops.A Dancer in Wartime paints a vivid and moving picture of what life was really like during the hard years of the Blitz and brings to life a lost world.Trade ReviewGillian's journey through dance is a story of passion and devotion that should be read by everyone, not just dance lovers -- Arlene PhillipsA beautiful tale of heartbreak, talent, determination and star quality * Daily Mail *Wonderfully nostalgic and magical * Easy Living *A charming and affecting memoir * Sunday Express, Books of the Year *An extraordinary tale -- Sarah Crompton * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisFive Ballets from Paris and St. Petersburg offers fascinating new looks at five classic story ballets: Giselle (1841), Paquita (1846), Le Corsaire (1856), La Bayadère (1877), and Raymonda (1898), drawing on a treasure trove of manuscripts that offer explicit written information about how many nineteenth-century ballets were performed in their earliest incarnations. Bursting with details forgotten for more than a century, these manuscripts bring the ballets to life by disclosing steps, floor patterns, and mime conversations as well as valuable insight into how the music helped create the drama.Generously enriched with more than 50 images and more than 350 musical examples, the book also includes, in appendices, English translations of seven French and Russian librettos. Emerging from the plenteous new findings in this book is a fresh portrait of a living, breathing art form with strong audience appeal. Simply put, Five Ballets fills huge gaps in dance history, inviting both general readers and specialists to rethink the usual narratives about nineteenth-century ballet, its music, characters, and choreographies, its depictions of Others and Elsewhere, and the careers of its major choreographers. It also offers a rich resource to practitioners seeking to learn how the makers of these five classic ballets found such great success.

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR FILM BY RALPH FIENNES, THE WHITE CROW''A gripping account of an extraordinary life'' Daily Telegraph Born on a train in Stalin''s Russia, Rudolf Nureyev was ballet''s first pop icon. No other dancer of our time has generated the same excitement - both on and off stage.Nureyev''s achievements and conquests became legendary: he rose out of Tatar peasant poverty to become the Kirov''s thrilling maverick star; slept with his beloved mentor''s wife; defected to the West in 1961; sparked Rudimania across the globe; established the most rhapsodic partnership in dance history with the middle-aged Margot Fonteyn; reinvented male technique; gatecrashed modern dance; moulded new stars; and staged Russia''s unknown ballet masterpieces in the West. He and his life were simply astonishing.''Magnificent, a triumph. Captures every facet of this extraordinary man'' Mail on Sunday''The definitive study of a manTrade ReviewMagnificent, compulsively readable * Guardian *A gripping account of an extraordinary life * Daily Telegraph *Magnificent, a triumph. Captures every facet of this extraordinary man * Mail on Sunday *Undoubtedly the definitive biography. Rudolf Nureyev, superstar, emerges in all his terribly flawed glory * Sunday Telegraph *The definitive study of a man who, in his combination of aesthetic grace and psychological grime, can truly be called a sacred monster * Observer *Julie Kavanagh writes with flair and abundance * The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Everyday Dancer is a new and honest account of the business of dancing from a writer with first hand experience of the profession. Structured around the daily schedule, The Everyday Dancer goes behind the velvet curtain, the gilt and the glamour to uncover the everyday realities of a career in dance. Starting out with the obligatory daily ''class'', the book progresses through the repetition of rehearsals, the excitement of creating new work, the nervous tension of the half hour call, the pressures of performance and the anti-climax of curtain down. Through this vivid portrait of a dancer''s every day, Deborah Bull reveals the arc of a dancer''s life: from the seven-year-old''s very first ballet class, through training, to company life, up through the ranks from corps de ballet to principal and then, not thirty years after it all began, to retirement and the inevitable sense of loss that comes with saying goodbye to your childhood dreams.

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Book SynopsisWhen Misty Copeland first placed her hands on the ballet barre at an after-school community centre, no one expected the undersized, underprivileged and anxious thirteen-year-old to become one of America''s most groundbreaking dancers. A true prodigy, she was attempting in months roles that take most dancers years to master. But when Misty became caught between the control and comfort she found in the world of ballet and the harsh realities of her own life, she had to choose to embrace both her identity and her dreams, and find the courage to be one of a kind.In this instant New York Times bestseller, Misty Copeland tells the story of her historic journey to become the first African-American principal ballerina at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. With an insider''s passion, Misty opens a window into the life of an artist who lives life centre stage, from behind the scenes at her first classes to her triumphant roles in some of the world''s most iconic ballets. Life in Motion is a story of passion, identity and grace for anyone who has dared to dream of a different life.

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Book Synopsis Part memoir, part dance history and ethnography, this critical study explores ballet''s power to inspire and to embody ideas about politics, race, women''s agency, and spiritual experience. The author knows that dance relates to life in powerful individual and communal ways, reflecting culture and embodying new ideas. Although ballet can appear (and sometimes is) elite and exclusionary, it also has revolutionary potential.

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Book Synopsis A reckoning with one of our most beloved art forms, whose past and present are shaped by gender, racial, and class inequities—and a look inside the fight for its future Every day, in dance studios all across America, legions of little children line up at the barre to take ballet class. This time in the studio shapes their lives, instilling lessons about gender, power, bodies, and their place in the world both in and outside of dance. In Turning Pointe, journalist Chloe Angyal captures the intense love for ballet that so many dancers feel, while also grappling with its devastating shortcomings: the power imbalance of an art form performed mostly by women, but dominated by men; the impossible standards of beauty and thinness; and the racism that keeps so many people of color out of ballet. As the rigid traditions of ballet grow increasingly out of step with the modern world, a new generation of dancers is confronting these issues head on, in the studio and on stage. For ballet to survive the twenty-first century and forge a path into a more socially just future, this reckoning is essential.

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Book Synopsis___ An innocent woman sent to the Gulag. A passion that gave her the will to survive. ‘Shattering, cinematic and brave’ Simon Morrison, author of Bolshoi Confidential ___ Nina Anisimova was one of Russia’s most intriguing ballerinas and one of the first Soviet female choreographers. Yet few knew that her exemplary career concealed a dark secret. In 1938, at the height of Stalin’s Great Terror, Nina was arrested by the secret police, accused of being a Nazi spy and sentenced to forced labour in a camp in Kazakhstan. Trapped without hope – and without winter clothes in temperatures of minus 40 degrees – her art was her salvation, giving her a reason to fight for her life. As Nina struggled to survive in the Gulag, her husband fought for her release in Leningrad. Against all odds, she was ultimately freed and astonishingly managed to return to her former life, just as war broke out. Despite wartime deprivation and the suffocating grip of Stalin’s totalitarian state, Nina’s irrepressible determination set her on the path to become an icon of the Kirov Ballet. A remarkable true story of suffering and injustice, of courage, resilience and triumph. ___ ‘Nina Anisimova’s story is extraordinary – heroic and harrowing in equal measure, a snapshot of the best and worst of Stalin’s Russia – and Christina Ezrahi does it vivid, gripping justice.’ Judith Mackrell, author of The Unfinished Palazzo ‘Christina Ezrahi vividly charts this brutal and uplifting story, bringing alive an extraordinary resourcefulness and determination to survive.’ Helen Rappaport, author of The Race to Save the Romanovs ‘Christina Ezrahi has uncovered a remarkable, untold episode in Soviet ballet history, which she brings to life through her customary rigorous research, clarity of expression and elegance of prose.’ Baroness Deborah Bull ‘An inspiring tale of survival against the odds. Ezrahi's diligent scholarship casts much-needed light on ballet history's darkest chapter.’ Luke Jennings, dance critic and author of Killing EveTrade Review‘Shattering, cinematic and brave’ Simon Morrison, author of Bolshoi Confidential ‘Nina Anisimova’s story is extraordinary – heroic and harrowing in equal measure, a snapshot of the best and worst of Stalin’s Russia – and Christina Ezrahi does it vivid, gripping justice.’ Judith Mackrell, author of The Unfinished Palazzo ‘Christina Ezrahi vividly charts this brutal and uplifting story, bringing alive an extraordinary resourcefulness and determination to survive.’ Helen Rappaport, author of The Race to Save the Romanovs ‘Christina Ezrahi has uncovered a remarkable, untold episode in Soviet ballet history, which she brings to life through her customary rigorous research, clarity of expression and elegance of prose.’ Baroness Deborah Bull ‘An inspiring tale of survival against the odds. Ezrahi's diligent scholarship casts much-needed light on ballet history's darkest chapter.’ Luke Jennings, dance critic and author of Killing Eve

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Hidden Figures and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks'The kind of history I wish I learned as a child dreaming of the stage!' MISTY COPELAND'Vibrant, propulsive and inspiring' TIA WILLIAMSHarlem 1969; it's the height of the Civil Rights era and the community is still reeling from the assassination of Martin Luther King. Arthur Mitchell, the first Black principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, takes his protest to the stage and establishes the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Here begins the story of the five extraordinary women at the heart of this book. Both a group biography and a story of a particular time, this is a book about ballet, the enduring allure of ballet for young girls, and about how these pioneers broke into a world that was closed to them and changed ideas of what a classical dancer could be. It is about the heart-breaking impact of the AIDS epidemic which claimed the

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Book SynopsisThe story behind the scandalous first performance of one of the most influential works in the history of music, as part of the stunning Landmark Library series. On 29 May 1913, at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, a new ballet by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky, received its premiere. Many of the cultural big names of Paris were there, or were rumoured to have been there: Debussy, Ravel, Proust, Gertrude Stein, Picasso. When the curtain rose on a cast of frenziedly stamping dancers, a near-riot ensued, ensuring the evening would enter the folklore of modernism. While it was the dancing that triggered the mayhem, Stravinsky's score contained shocks enough, with its innovations in form, rhythm, dissonance and its sheer sonic power. The Rite of Spring would achieve recognition in its own right as a concert piece, and is now seen as one of the most influential works of the 20th century. Gillian Moore explores the cultural climate that created The Rite, tells the story of the creation of the music and the ballet and provides a guide to the music itself, showing how a scandalous novelty of 1913 became a 21st-century concert staple. As well as considering its influence on 20th-century classical composers, she probes The Rite's impact on film music (including scores for Star Wars and Jaws); its extensive influence on jazz musicians (including Charlie Parker) and by artists as diverse as Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa and The Pet Shop Boys.Trade ReviewGillian Moore's succinct, lucid and beautifully illustrated book explains the history of this unique musical phenomenon with a keen sense of its broader significance * Literary Review *[Gillian Moore] offers a stylish and concise account of the event... It's one of the strengths of Moore's finely illustrated monograph that it supplies chapter and verse, not only on the score's background and artistic context but also on the amazing subsequent reach of music whose ancestry was so esoteric that Stravinsky could claim it had virtually no tradition behind it and had come to him out of the blue' * Guardian *With its fascinating illustrations and welcoming tone, this is a non-specialist guide by a writer who tells a rattling good tale... Moore's musical and choreographic commentaries are jargon-free and accessible, and her judgments adroit, 5*' * BBC Music Magazine *In her excellent, lavishly illustrated The Rite of Spring, Gillian Moore explains what all the fuss was about, how music and ballet were created, and why Stravinsky's music has had such an enduring influence * Choice magazine *If Moore doesn't convince you of the epochal significance of Stravinsky's brilliant, outrageous fire-starter, you must be damn hard to please. With an intoxicating tone which combines academic authority, rich, detailed description and pure thrill, she explains the history of the piece, the wild myths and characters which come with it, and the explosive impact of its first riotous performance in Paris, 1913 * Big Issue *From a Cocteau line drawing to a Roerich imagined portrait of prehistory to Walt Disney, illustrations consistently stimulate and illuminate; Moore's enthusiasm and trademark clarity are everywhere * Classical Music *[A] compact, beautifully designed and expertly written vade-mecum to The Rite * The Oldie *What Gillian Moore offers is something rather different from these earlier books. Hers is a thoroughly approachable study of The Rite which can readily be enjoyed by readers without technical knowledge [...] but who are seeking a deeper understanding of this pivotal work in the history of music * Gramophone *Though only 208 pages long, it's a more complete picture than usual, written in a clear style, with useful references and footnotes. The handsome, artfully done book includes many photos and colorful images to add to the pleasure of reading... Moore recalls a time when audiences for ballet, opera and classical music felt free to become more visibly involved in a performance. It's a time worth remembering, and Gillian Moore, award winner and Director of Music at the Southbank Centre, describes it well' * Classical Music Daily. *

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Book SynopsisThis is a story of a young girl from a small town with a big dream that took her to Juilliard, Broadway, summer stock, the stage of the Metropolitan Opera and the Santa Fe Opera, and introduced her to her husband William Zeckendorf Jr. Her memoir overflows with the glamour of a life lived among the famous figures of mid-century New York society and the grit necessary to succeed in the professional world of dance. Fascinated by art and architecture, the vivacious ballerina Nancy Zeckendorf became a formidable development partner with her husband and a philanthropic leader in the performing arts – her fundraising ability is an art form unto itself. “I love hardware stores and tools,” she said of her common-sense approach to construction projects. Indeed, Nancy was a guiding force in the expansion of the Santa Fe Opera, the Lensic Performing Arts Center, and the premier community of Los Miradores where she lives now in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Book SynopsisPrince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans while out hunting. When one of the swans turns into a beautiful woman, Odette, he is enraptured. But she is under a spell that holds her captive, allowing her to regain her human form only at night. The evil spirit Von Rothbart, arbiter of Odette’s curse, disguises his daughter Odile as Odette to trick Siegfried into breaking his vow of love. Fooled, Siegfried declares his love for Odile, and so dooms Odette to suffer under the curse forever. Swan Lake was Tchaikovsky’s first score for the ballet. Given its status today as arguably the best-loved and most admired of all classical ballets, it is perhaps surprising that at its premiere in 1877 Swan Lake was poorly received. It is thanks to the 1895 production by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov that Swan Lake has become part of not only ballet consciousness but also wider popular culture. That success is secured not only by the sublime, symphonic sweep of Tchaikovsky’s score but also by the striking choreographic contrasts between Petipa’s royal palace scenes and the lyric lakeside scenes created by Ivanov. Swan Lake has had a special role in the repertory of The Royal Ballet since 1934. Since then there has been a succession of productions, the most recent of which was overseen by Anthony Dowell. This 2019 Season sees a new production with additional choreography by ROH Artist-in-Residence Liam Scarlett. Scarlett, while remaining faithful to the Petipa-Ivanov text, will bring fresh eyes to the staging of this classic ballet, in collaboration with his long-term designer John Macfarlane. This beautifully produced new Royal Ballet branded book with photographs by Bill Cooper is a collection of exclusive photographs which shines the spotlight on Swan Lake. These exquisite photos feature some of the finest dancers on stage today and give an exclusive insight into the Royal Ballet’s work.Table of ContentsForeword by Kevin O'Hare Introduction by Liam Scarlett Prologue Act I Act II Act III Act IV Production Afterword by John Macfarlane 2017/18 Season Image Captions

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Book Synopsis'Swan Dive is to ballet what Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential was to restaurants, a chance to go behind the serene front of house to the sweaty, foul-mouthed, psychofrenzy backstage.' – Daisy Goodwin, Sunday TimesIn this love letter to the art of dance, Georgina Pazcoguin, New York City Ballet’s first Asian American female soloist, lays bare the backstage world of elite ballet.With an unapologetic sense of humour about the cut-throat mentality required, Pazcoguin takes us from her small home town in Pennsylvania to training for one of the most revered ballet companies in the world – a company that was rocked by scandal in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Pazcoguin continues to be one of the few dancers openly speaking up against harassment, abuse and racism – all of which she has painfully experienced firsthand.Tying together Pazcoguin’s fight for equality with an infectious passion for her craft, Swan Dive is a page-turning, one-of-a-kind memoir that guarantees you’ll never view a ballerina or a ballet the same way again.'Always arresting onstage, Georgina Pazcoguin gives us a take on the ballet world that is witty and from the heart. An eye-opening read.' – Mikhail Baryshnikov'A funny, poignant and shocking read . . . [Pazcoguin] punctures, with enormous glee, the stereotype of the ballet dancer as an elegant, ethereal being.' – Fiona Sturges, GuardianTrade ReviewSwan Dive is to ballet what Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential was to restaurants, a chance to go behind the serene front of house to the sweaty, foul-mouthed, psychofrenzy backstage. -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *Swan Dive is a sharp plunge into the reality of ballet in all its perfectionist genius and rigour, and all its abuses and sadism. What makes Pazcoguin’s message so haunting is that exploitation and violation are seen as the price that female dancers have to pay to perform some of the greatest dances known to humanity. -- Bidisha * Observer *Her resilience is written on every page, often in capitals, with wit and rage displayed in equal measure. -- Sarah Crompton * Sunday Times Books of the Year *A funny, poignant and shocking read . . . [Pazcoguin] punctures, with enormous glee, the stereotype of the ballet dancer as an elegant, ethereal being. -- Fiona Sturges * Guardian *Explosive . . . This is far from misery memoir. There’s a passionate joy in the dancing itself, and the lively pages are filled with colloquialisms -- Marianka Swain * Daily Telegraph *A blisteringly honest tale of overcoming hurdles — racism, misogyny, sexual harassment and psychological abuse — to reach the top of a fiendishly cut-throat industry. -- Laura Pullman * Sunday Times *A gritty, shocking yet also humorous account of the demands of life as an elite dancer from the first Asian American female soloist at the New York City Ballet. * i News *Ballet fans should definitely get their hands on Swan Dive by Georgina Pazcoguin which is a truthful, funny, shocking and scandalous exploration of elite ballet. * Stylist *Pazcoguin's highly readable account of a life in the most painful profession . . . a power pack of inspiration. * Strong Words *A page-turner * New York Times *Witty, sobering, hell-raising . . . Pazcoguin exposes more turmoil at New York City Ballet than any fictional melodrama could hope to match. * Washington Post *While the juicy details of beautiful people behaving badly are beguiling, it’s Pazcoguin’s unsparing criticism of the industry that begs an encore. This is potent stuff * Publishers Weekly *Always arresting onstage, Georgina Pazcoguin gives us a take on the ballet world that is witty and from the heart. An eye-opening read. -- Mikhail BaryshnikovRevelatory . . . Sure to ruffle some tutus * New York Post *Come for the unfiltered peek behind the curtain, stay for the accessible, often hilarious writing * Dance Magazine *Pazcoguin writes with astounding passion about her achievements, and her prose is enchanting as she describes finally being comfortable in her own skin. Vulnerable, raw, and full of grit, this is the story of a woman who has been broken yet clawed her way to victory . . . A personal tale of darkness, passion, and euphoric triumph * Library Journal *In her brisk, spirited debut memoir, [Pazcoguin] recounts her experiences in the competitive, hierarchal ballet world . . . A lively chronicle of dedication and joy. * Kirkus Reviews *Aggressively entertaining. . . [Swan Dive] is equal parts autobiography, insider intel, and righteous indignation * Shelf Awareness *A thoroughly captivating read. Determination and passion are the cornerstones of Georgina’s magic onstage and off, and her humor and wit make this peek behind the curtain like no other dance memoir. Her courage in the face of adversity is to be admired -- Chita RiveraGeorgina has led quite the journey to become the woman she is today. She exemplifies a natural, nostalgic showgirl attitude combined with the sensitivity and precision of a life in ballet. -- Zac PosenThis is a fearless book written with a courageous, blazing spirit. Georgina’s story compels you to look at yours as fiercely as she examines hers. -- Jose Antonio Vargas, founder of Define American and author of Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented CitizenYou will find Swan Dive to be a wild ride dancing between risk and balance, legacy and possibility. -- Andy Blankenbuehler, award-winning choreographer of In the Heights and Hamilton

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Book SynopsisThis autobiography by Leanne Benjamin with Sarah Crompton reveals the extraordinary life and career of one of the worlds most important ballet dancers of the past fifty years. The book takes you behind the scenes to find a real understanding of the pleasure and the pain, the demands and the intense commitment it requires to become a ballet dancer. It is a book for ballet-lovers which will explain from Benjamins personal point of view, how ballet has changed and is changing. It is a book of history: she was first taught by the people who created ballet in its modern form and now she works with the dancers of today, handing on all she has known and learnt. But it is also a book for people who are just interested in the psychology of achievement, how you go from being a child in small-town Rockhampton in the centre of Australia to being a power on the worlds biggest stages -- and how an individual copes with the ups and downs of that kind of career. It is a story full of big names and big personalities -- Margot Fonteyn, Kenneth MacMillan, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Darcey Bussell, Carlos Acosta to name a few. President Clinton, Michelle Obama, Diana Princess of Wales and David Beckham all make an appearance. But it is also a book of small moments of insight: what makes a performance special, how you recover from injury, illness and childbirth; how you combine athletic and artistic prowess with motherhood, how a different partner can alter everything, what it is like to fall over in front of thousands of people and what it is like to triumph. Above all, it seeks to explain, in warm and human terms, why women get the reputation for being difficult in a world where being a good girl is too much prized. And what they can do about it.Trade Review"Leannes extraordinary journey really comes to life in this refreshingly honest account of her career in dance. She was not only a brilliant Principal with The Royal Ballet but has made a significant impact on the artform through her coaching of the next generation of performers. With her consummate artistry, tenacity, warmth and wit, she truly is built for ballet!" Kevin OHare, Director, The Royal Ballet

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Book SynopsisMargot Fonteyn - born plain Peggy Hookham - was dreamed into existence by the architects of British ballet: Ninette de Valois, Frederick Ashton and Constant Lambert. Carried to fame on a wave of wartime patriotism, Margot''s sense of duty rather than ambition propelled her forward. Yet her gifts were such that her pre-eminence would come to eclipse the careers of subsequent generations.Ballet is a fairytale world; if Margot, like the pure and poetic heroine of Swan Lake, was a natural Odette, she would also have to contend with virtue''s raw shadow-side in the guise of Constant Lambert, Roberto Arias and Rudolph Nureyev - the men who, like Von Rothbart, were to take possession of her heart.

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