First Steps In Ballet Author:Brian Shaw With a foreword by Sir Frederick Ashton and specially taken photographs by Jesse Davis. — Ballet has its beginnings in the stately dances of Louis XIV's French court. Since then, more than 300 years ago, it has evolved into the most demanding, colourful and entertaining of all forms of theatre; but behind the dazzling performances we watch on s... more »tage and television lie hours of hard practice and years of back-breaking classes and exercise.
First Steps In Ballet takes the reader through all the positions and steps that are used in ballet classes around the world. Beginning with the five basic positions of the feet and ending with the spectacular fish dives of Sleeping Beauty, the book covers barre exercises, centre work, double work, pointe work, costumes, dance notation and mime. It relates the stories of six favourite ballets and, all the way through, there are photographs of some of the top ballet stars in performance.
The specially-taken photographs by Jesse Davis clearly illustrate and add to the superb text.
The author is Brian Shaw of the Royal Ballet, who is a senior teacher of the company as well as being one of its leading dancers. His talent, experience and obvious love of his art shine through the pages of htis delightful and instructive book.« less