Bag of Books

If you like ballet and love books:

Ballet 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving the Ballet (Robert Greskovic) – does what it says on the can!

Balletomania: The Story of an Obsession (Arnold Haskell) – a journey back to the dancing days of Karsavina, Markova, Toumanova & other deities.

The Ballet Companion: A Dancer’s Guide to the Technique, Traditions and Joys of Ballet (Eliza Gaynor Minden) – the ballet student’s bible. Linda loves it!

How to Enjoy Ballet (Clement Crisp and Mary Clarke) – a short & sweet reference guide, highly recommended for those encountering ballet for the first time.

Pas de Deux, the Royal Ballet in Pictures (Oberon Books) – a feast for the eyes!

The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training and Technique (Janice Barringer and Sarah Schlesinger) – Everything you need to know about the ballerina’s basic tool. Great not only for students but for those interested in the history of these shoes.

Rethinking the Sylph (Lynn Garafola & others) – a collection of fascinating essays on symbolism and motifs in Romantic ballets. For those terminally obsessed with Giselle and La Sylphide.

The Royal Ballet: 75 years (Zoe Anderson) – From their South Bank theatrical origins to the “World Stage”, a look at what the Royal Ballet is made of.

Sylfiden Findes (Anne Middelboe Christensen) – a picture book of “everything La Sylphide”. Emilia’s consumer dream, shame that the text is in Danish.

Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet (Gail Grant) – Very informative book about all the steps in ballet, in all the different systems. Only downside is the lack of pictures but the description of the execution of each step is outstanding.

Dancing on My Grave (Gelsey Kirkland and Greg Lawrence) – The ups and downs of a prima ballerina. Compelling.

Different Drummer: The Life of Kenneth MacMillan (Jann Parry) – A very detailed account of Kenneth MacMillan’s life, with insights into his work methods and the underlying themes he explored through dance. An extremely interesting read and a page turner.