The Ballet Book: The Young Performer’s Guide to Classical Dance

For young people interested in ballet or already involved in ballet dancing, the Canadian National Ballet School’s second edition on ballet is a must. The Ballet Book, a large-format trade paperback prepared by the school’s two artistic directors, is both an instructional and reference book for budding ballet dancers. It is beautifully prepared with well over one hundred mostly full-page color photos, with the help of seventeen of the school’s dancers, demonstrating the various ballet positions. Each photo has a caption naming the position and describing it in a short but succinct paragraph. Most are demonstrated by a solo dancer, but some have two or more dancers or even a group. The book is divided into five chapters, the first two giving the basics: how to choose a good school and good teacher, appearance and dancewear, and so on. Then the book gets into the basic positions from first to fifth position of feet and body, again, each with a short, good description by which the students can practice between classes. Later chapters get into the more difficult positions and performing the dances.