The Ballet Companion

A Dancer's Guide to the Technique, Traditions, and Joys of Ballet

By: Eliza Gaynor Minden

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Hardcover | 1 October 2005 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover
352 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
2.9 x 24.5 x 19.6

Hardcover

RRP $49.99

$39.75

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A New Classic for Today's Dancer

The Ballet Companion is a fresh, comprehensive, and thoroughly up-to-date reference book for the dancer. With 150 stunning photographs of ballet stars Maria Riccetto and Benjamin Millepied demonstrating perfect execution of positions and steps, this elegant volume brims with everything today's dance student needs, including:

Practical advice for getting started, such as selecting a school, making the most of class, and studio etiquette
Explanations of ballet fundamentals and major training systems
An illustrated guide through ballet class -- warm-up, barre, and center floor
Guidelines for safe, healthy dancing through a sensible diet, injury prevention, and cross-training with yoga and Pilates
Descriptions of must-see ballets and glossaries of dance, music, and theater terms
Along the way you'll find technique secrets from stars of American Ballet Theatre, lavishly illustrated sidebars on ballet history, and tips on everything from styling a ballet bun to stage makeup to performing the perfect pirouette.

Whether a budding ballerina, serious student, or adult returning to ballet, dancers will find a lively mix of ballet's time-honored traditions and essential new information.

Industry Reviews

‘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

‘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 smorgasbord 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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Non-Fiction Arts & Entertainment Dance & Other Performing Arts Dance Ballet

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Non-Fiction Arts & Entertainment Dance & Other Performing Arts Dance Ballet

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. xii
To Be a Dancer
Getting Started	p. 3
Selecting a Ballet School	p. 3
Choosing Your Level of Commitment	p. 6
Ballet Moms and Dads: Sine Qua Non	p. 8
What to Expect of Class	p. 9
What Class Expects of You	p. 11
Getting the Most Out of Class	p. 15
When to Begin Pointework	p. 17
All That Jazz, Modern, and More	p. 21
Ballet at Any Age	p. 27
Getting Serious	p. 31
Backstage and Onstage	p. 31
Summer Intensives	p. 42
Auditions	p. 47
Advanced Classes: Partnering and Variations	p. 52
Men's Training	p. 56
Competitions	p. 59
The Curious Dancer
Studio Attire	p. 11
Ribbons and Elastics	p. 18
The Ballet Bun	p. 28
Stage Makeup	p. 37
Ballet's Courtly Origins	p. 46
Tour de Force
Catherine de Medici and Le Ballet Comique de la Reine	p. 14
Rebels, Rivals, and the "Shakespeare of Ballet"	p. 22
Louis XIV and the French Tradition	p. 40
Romanticism	p. 50
Extraordinary Partnership: Fonteyn and Nureyev	p. 58
Ballet Basics
Major Schools of Ballet	p. 63
The French School	p. 64
Bournonville (Denmark)	p. 65
Cecchetti (Italy)	p. 68
Royal Academy of Dance (England)	p. 68
Vaganova (Soviet Russia)	p. 70
Balanchine	p. 71
Fundamentals of Technique	p. 77
Alignment	p. 78
Lift	p. 79
Turnout	p. 80
Positions and Orientations	p. 85
Positions of the Feet	p. 86
Positions of the Arms	p. 88
Sur le Cou-de-Pied	p. 94
Passe or Retire	p. 97
Arabesques	p. 98
Attitude	p. 100
Orientations of the Body	p. 102
The Curious Dancer
Dance Notation	p. 66
Through the Ranks	p. 69
Tour de Force
Tutu Much: Ballet Costumes	p. 72
Bournonville and the Danish Tradition	p. 82
Ballet Blanc: The Corps de Ballet's Triumph	p. 92
Pas de Quatre (not Pas de Cinq)	p. 95
Livry's Shroud	p. 96
Ballet Class
Before Class	p. 107
Warm Up	p. 108
Stretch	p. 109
At the Barre	p. 121
Plie	p. 128
Releve	p. 130
Cambre	p. 132
Battement Tendu	p. 134
Rond de Jambe par Terre	p. 137
Fondu	p. 138
Battement Frappe	p. 140
Developpe	p. 142
Grand Rond de Jambe	p. 144
Petit Battement sur le Cou-de-Pied	p. 145
Rond de Jambe en l'Air	p. 146
Barre Stretches	p. 148
Grand Battement	p. 149
Center Floor	p. 153
Adagio/Adage	p. 154
Allegro: Petit and Grand	p. 158
Turns	p. 174
Reverence	p. 181
Musicality	p. 183
All About Pointe	p. 187
The Rise of the Ballerina	p. 187
How a Pointe Shoe Works	p. 188
How to Select and Fit Pointe Shoes	p. 192
Pointe Training and Technique	p. 198
The Curious Dancer
Pirouette Tips from the Pros	p. 178
Anatomy of a Pointe Shoe	p. 191
Foot Types	p. 194
Tour de Force
Pioneers of Pointe: Taglioni and Legnani	p. 118
Petipa and the Tsars' Ballet	p. 126
Pavlova	p. 136
Modern Dance	p. 150
Nijinsky	p. 182
"Astonish Me." Diaghilev, Fokine, and the Ballets Russes	p. 204
The Healthy Dancer
Respect Your Body; Dance Forever	p. 209
Eating Well to Dance Well	p. 209
Body Esteem: Dealing with the Mirror	p. 214
Eating Disorders	p. 215
Puberty and Dancing	p. 221
Anatomy Illustrated	p. 226
Injury Prevention	p. 231
Avoiding Burnout	p. 231
Ballet Injury "Hot Spots"	p. 232
Muscles-Pulls and Tears	p. 244
Anatomical Terms	p. 244
Daily Care For Dancing Feet	p. 245
If You Are Injured	p. 247
Cross Training	p. 253
Pilates	p. 253
Yoga	p. 255
Resistance Training	p. 260
Floor-Barre	p. 261
Gyrotonic	p. 262
Swimming	p. 263
The Curious Dancer
Ballet's Folk Dance Tradition	p. 223
Ballet on Broadway	p. 251
Mime	p. 252
Tour de Force
A Tale of Two Cities: The Kirov and the Bolshoi	p. 224
Balanchine, Kirstein, and New York City Ballet	p. 228
American Ballet Theatre	p. 242
Ashton, de Valois, and the Royal Ballet	p. 258
The Dance Boom of the '60s and '70s	p. 264
Ballet Literacy
Must-See Ballet	p. 269
The Curious Dancer
Must-See Ballet at a Glance	p. 290
Historical Time Line	p. 292
Glossaries	p. 299
Ballet Terms	p. 299
Music Terms	p. 310
Theater Terms	p. 312
Social Dances	p. 313
Dancer Slang	p. 314
Further Reading	p. 316
Resources	p. 318
Videos	p. 318
Organizations	p. 319
Magazines and Publications	p. 319
Index	p. 321
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

The Ballet Companion

A Dancer's Guide to the Technique, Traditions, and Joys of Ballet

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

Other Editions and Formats

ePUB

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