Whether you want to participate in ballet or just watch it, the ballet experience can excite and inspire you. Ballet is among the most beautiful forms of expression ever devised: an exquisite mix of sight and sound, stunning, aesthetics, and awesome technique.
From covering the basics of classical ballet to sharing safe and sensible ways to try your hand (and toes) at moving through the actual dance steps, this expert reference shows you how to:
- Build your appreciation for ballet from the ground up.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Ballet Dancing from the Top 7
Chapter 1: Curtain Up! Welcome to the Ballet 9
Chapter 2: Stocking the Tools of the Trade 17
Chapter 3: Getting Toasty: Warming Up Your Body 31
Chapter 4: Leaping into Ballet Basics 47
Chapter 5: Music, Maestro! 63
Part 2: Belly Up to the Barre 73
Chapter 6: Basic Barre-Tending 75
Chapter 7: Stepping It Up at the Barre 97
Chapter 8: Getting a Leg Up 115
Part 3: Center Floor, Anyone? 137
Chapter 9: Getting to Center Floor 139
Chapter 10: Ballet’s Tasmanian Devil: The Pirouette 155
Chapter 11: Linking It Together: The Steps Between the Steps 173
Chapter 12: Ground Control to Ballet Dancer 187
Chapter 13: Getting More Air Time 205
Part 4: Living the Ballet Life 219
Chapter 14: Partners Aren’t Just for Square Dancing 221
Chapter 15: Exploring Choreography 235
Chapter 16: What the Heck Are They Saying? The Art of Ballet Mime 249
Chapter 17: Watching Ballet in Action 267
Part 5: The Part of Tens 281
Chapter 18: The Ten Most Commonly Used Ballet Steps 283
Chapter 19: Ten Best-Loved Classical Ballets 287
Chapter 20: Ten Great “Contemporary” Ballets 295
Chapter 21: The Ten Best Ballet Terms for Cocktail Parties 303
Chapter 22: Ten Fascinating Facts about Professional Ballet Dancers 307
Glossary of Ballet Terms 315
Index 323
