Reviews (1)

A superb reference for all aspiring tangologists!
The is the English version of Ferrer's "El Siglo de Oro de Tango". He categorized the hundred years of tango history into 8 periods, from the genesis of tango, through the development of various "orquestas tipicas", to the modernization of the music and the current popularity of its music and dance. Each period and its prominent musicians and poets were nicely described and at the end of each period, Ferrer listed the major compositions of that time. Some of these lists seem somewhat tedious for leisure reading, but they are very useful if you want to look up some particular information.

The book is also beautifully illustrated with vintage photographs of the major orchestras and dancers as well as the wonderfully decorated covers of the sheet music. If you are interested in the history of tango music, this is a very good introduction and reference. This is particularly true for people who can't read Spanish fluently. Yes, it took me almost 3 months to receive my copy. But it is well worth it!

Finally, just a brief biographic note on Horacio Ferrer. He was the lyricist for Astor Piazzolla for a very long time. His most famous lyrics included "balada para un loco", "Chiquilin de bachin", and "Maria de Buenos Aires" (an operita). He is currently one of the foremost tango scholars (among others such as Jose Gobello, Maria Susana Azzi, and Simon Collier). ... Read more

Book Description

Balanchine's life story is a fascinating journey -- from his near-accidental enrollment, at the age of nine, in St. Petersburg's Imperial School of Ballet, through the deprivation and hunger of Bolshevik Russia, to Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, and finally, in 1933, to the United States and eventually to the New York City Ballet, to which his reputation is forever tied. As his fame spread around the world, Balanchine's ideas revolutionized ballet, extending the vocabulary of classical dance both through his teaching and through a series of great works, from his crucial collaboration with Stravinsky to his restagings of nineteenth-century classics, including the immensely popular Nutcracker.

Even as he was championing classical ballet during the thirties and forties, Balanchine was expanding the possibilities of dance on Broadway, choreographing a series of major musicals (four Rodgers and Hart shows, including On Your Toes, with its famous "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"). Meanwhile in Hollywood, beginning with The Goldwyn Follies, he was successfully exploring the possibilities of filmed dance.

His personal life was as highly charged as his professional life, involving five dancer-wives, including Broadway stars Tamara Geva (On Your Toes) and Vera Zorina (I Married an Angel) and three great ballerinas, most notably Maria Tallchief.

In this loving biography, Robert Gottlieb chronicles the life and achievements of ballet's foremost choreographer. Drawing on his own involvement with the New York City Ballet and his relationships with Balanchine, Lincoln Kirstein (who brought Balanchine to America), and many of Balanchine's leading colleagues, Gottlieb has produced a compelling portrait of a vital man, one of the creative masters of the twentieth century.

Book Description

This hilariously uplifting memoir follows an Arab American woman's merry life as she shimmies her way from getting dumped by her tattoo-artist boyfriend to coming to grips with being single, ample, and 30. Feeling lost and heartbroken, Anne Thomas Soffee moves back home to Richmond, Virginia. Against the wishes of her extended family and friends, she enrolls in a belly dancing class hoping to heal her heart and reconnect with her Lebanese roots. Her life is never the same after she discovers the riotous world of American belly dancing, a warm and welcoming subculture where younger and thinner are not necessarily better. Wildly funny adventures ensue as a newly confident Soffee embarks on romantic adventures with a domineering sheik and a beautiful Lebanese boy-next-door. Among the zils (finger cymbals) and thrills of attending classes and performing in moose lodges and county fairs, Soffee is surprised to find happiness and true love along the way. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A must have for belly dancers
I loved this book. It rings so true with me. I've been dancing for 5 years and it brought back many just-getting-addicted memories for me with the dance. I'm still addicted, I'm just used to it now. That little trip down memory lane reminded me just how much I love this dance and how far I've come since then. And I loved the witty and sarcastic style Anne wrote with. I would love to read another book by her, but I think this is a story only to be told once. Maybe a better version of 'Belly Laughs'? ;) Its a must have book for dancers that just can't get enough of the dance!

Been there and done (most of) that
As a bellydancer, I picked up this book out of curiosity, mostly just to see what the author had written about the dance and how accurate it was. I was surprised to find the book both well-written, compelling, and absolutely dead-on about the world of American bellydance. Even though I learned to dance some twenty years and 3,000 miles away from where Anna Soffee first took lessons and even though my personal life is nowhere as turbulent as hers, I found myself repeatedly nodding my head and saying "Sister, I have been there and done that." The first performance at the country fair, the sleazy come-ons from men that assume that because you're a belly dancer you are also stripper/hooker, the terrible audience that is ABSOLUTELY not interested in you, the lack of understanding from family and friends, the in-fighting between dancers and troupes--it was like the author was writing about my own life.
My advice? Even if you aren't interested in belly dance, buy this book and read it any way. The style is edgy, hip, and funny and the moral of the book--that you have to accept yourself the way you are before you can achieve any sort of personal fulfillment--is ultimately very uplifting. I came away with a lot of respect for Ms. Soffee as both a dancer, a writer and a survivor.

GREAT!
This book had me laughing out loud, just ask my boyfriend! I couldn't put it down. I loved all her stories about her belly dance life and her relationship horror stories. Books about relationships usually aren't my thing, but these stories are in a class of their own! Great book!

Cool
I picked this book up when I was in the process of collecting any and all info on mid east dance - I really enjoyed it as it was an easy read with a lot of personality behind the text. Too often books with an autobiographical spin will read slow and boring, devoid of any underlying personality. This not only was lively, but could be related to on a human level. Plus hey - it was a neat peak into someone else's perception of the belly dance world!

Not just for belly dancers
This book has everything you loved about The Big Fat Greek Wedding. It's a funny and endearing look at self-discovery. I loved it. ... Read more

Book Description

The third in the Quickstart dance series deals with the most popular dance in the world from America's most popular author of books on the topic of dance.

100 Swing Variations with Applications in the following 4 Rhythms:

1. Single - Street or Club
2. Double - Jitterbug
3. Double - Kick
4. Triple - East Coast Swing

This text is presented in a logical, easy to understand, cumulative format that includes all the basic and advanced skills necessary for the successful learning, partnering, and teaching of Swing dancing.

Quickstart to Swing is written with Jeff Allen's noted kinesiological approach along with the mental and physical attitudes and philosophies that will make any level dancer successful. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

AWESOME !
Wow! Jeff Allen has produced a book Quickstart To Swing that teaches the basics to a beginner AND gives additional technique to the experienced dancer. The movements required to produce good Swing dancing are broken down and explained in detail. The details include the technique that "makes it work". Mr. Allen also includes common errors and specifically addresses how to fix them. I have been dancing for about 4 years now, both competitively and socially, and I found this book to be filled with information that has helped to improve my dancing in general, and more specifically my Swing dancing. I gave this book to a fellow dancer and by following the excellent technique given in the Swing Rock description, he no longer pulls my arm out of the socket when we dance Swing! He also learned to stay closer to his partner, keep his steps smaller and can lead an underarm turn! The technique used to correct these problems was never even spoken of by his "instructor". The resurgence of Swing's popularity has also dramatically increased the population of "Swing Teachers". Unfortunately the US does not require any credentials to be a "teacher" of dance so anyone who thinks they know a few "moves" can - VOILA - be a dance teacher. For those out there who fit this description, do yourself a very big favor - Buy Quickstart To Swing , read it and learn it ! Thank you Mr. Allen for finally providing an easy to read, 'how-to' book on Swing dancing that all dancers can learn from no matter what their experience or level!

I Read and Continue to Learn
Owning this book since 2000 when it first came out has indeed been a rewarding experience, it's like having a terrific teacher at your side whenever you have a question. The best way to use this book is to tackle it a piece at a time, one or two figures, working out the choreography and following the details for the lead or follow with your partner as described on each step. Then begin the detailed work of how elements of rotation, the rock step, key moments of emphasis, etc. is described in the technique section of the book. The book has an absolutely fabulous index making topical exploration and cross referencing very easy.

I noticed that few of the reviewers do not mention (personally I do not believe that many of the "so-called," reviewers at this page actually read or spent time with this book) the 4 rhythms that are covered in the book giving the dancer tremendous versatility while dancing Swing to many different rhythms or just adding variety to the figures themselves.

Another exciting aspect of this book is that you are able to contact and discuss dancing with the author. I emailed a congratulatory message to him for writing this book along with a couple of questions and they were answered. Now that's valued added!

I Have Found Immeasurable Help with This Book!
I have found immeasurable help with this book!

I absolutely love this book. It is the best dance resource that I have found in print!!!

Here's why:

Remember when you where a kid and you received your first set of encyclopedias - this book gives you that same trusted feeling when you have a question about Swing dancing or partner dancing in general. The better you get, the longer you study, and practice dancing the more you'll appreciate this book written by Jeff Allen. Many paragraphs in this book are so power packed that they alone are worth the price. The author continually challenges the quality of your dancing to make you better and better. Ideas for improvement and creativity begin to explode in your brain and you are able to take your dancing to the next level.

If you dance and don't own this book, you are really missing out!

Wow!! I Found A Wealth of Knowledge
It's unbelievable I have learned more about Swing dancing, and partner dancing in general than any six teachers I've studied with! I don't know why that is but I don't really care. Believe me I WILL be suggesting Allen's "Quickstart to Swing" to each of them.

The material in the book is everything you wanted to know about dancing but didn't know how to ask! I've read where some people have had trouble with this book - perhaps that's because their introduction to dancing was step orientated rather than body, balance, timing, rhythm, etc. One of the keenest insights found in this book that I learned is when you put your feet down on the floor your body STOPS by contrast it is how you take your feet OFF the floor that permits movement. From that premise, it was easy to understand that for a dancer the most important foot is the supporting foot or the place that you exit from. Because of that revelation, I was able to create ten times more body rhythm giving me a great natural and fluid look. And because of that understanding, this book is very easy to understand. I hope this helps some of you NOT to be swayed by negative reviews.

Many single pages in this book more than repay the reader if dancing is their desire! It's really a phenomenal reference book that you'll use over and over again. You'll find yourself, as I did, comparing what you've learned or heard about dancing to the contents of this book. And you know what? The more you understand the more you'll grow to love it.

I partner better in all my dances including the Latin ones. I hope Allen's next book has Salsa in it.

Brilliant for any Ballroom or Swing Student!
Here's a book that answers anything you wanted to know about Swing dancing but didn't know how to ask. We use this book to correct and improve our interpretation and understanding of concepts and the techniques of Swing & Rhythm dancing. Since we are interested in becoming teachers, we exchange the roles of either leader or follower. The book is written this way so it makes it easy to do. Allen says in the 'How to Use This Book' section that the descriptions of the steps are conversational and delivered as if he were there with the reader, so we read aloud for each other. He's right, when we do this it's a lot of FUN and it makes it seem if we are in a class with him. If there is anything or any term, we didn't understand there is an item by item technique section and glossary along with a fabulous index in the back section of the book. You can always tell the quality of a book by the content and thoroughness of its index.

The book challenges those who have learned Swing improperly or have tried to mimic it. On page, 2 and 3 Allen detailed the detrimental habits we ourselves had formed and with the help of this book have eradicated! Lastly, if you can read and understand this review you won't have any trouble with this book! There must a couple of hundred thousand words in this book so it is packed. So as not to be overwhelmed by the size of this book, we worked in small increments, using the wonderful lesson by lesson cumulative approach found chapter by chapter. We kept in mind that this is a 'How To' book so we worked on how to do it and not just how to read it. Most importantly, we'll continue to use this book for years to come, especially if we want to show others how to dance a great Swing. BRAVO and THANK YOU Jeff Allen!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Martha Graham (1894-1991) referred to her dancers as "acrobats of God," but in truth it was she who seemed divinely inspired. Graham was a dancer, choreographer, and teacher for more than 70 years, and during that time she changed the landscape of dance forever. An unlikely candidate for a dance diva, she was shorter and more muscular than the principal ballet dancers of her time and she didn't start dancing until age 22--a flower long past her bloom in the eyes of most choreographers. Nonetheless, Graham managed to turn the dance world on its tutu with her innovative approach to movement and teaching and her clear understanding that feelings are not always graceful, but always intense.

Russell Freedman, who won the Newbery Medal in 1988 for Lincoln: A Photobiography and Newbery Honors for The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane (1992) and Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery (1994), has once again crafted a beautiful, intriguing biography. He traces Graham's remarkable life from a childhood filled with imaginative play, to her decision to attend dance school instead of college, through her departure from the Broadway Follies to pursue her own dance style, and onward through her late life, when she continued teaching and creating distinctive performance pieces. The fascinating biography is complemented by exquisite black-and-white photographs that reveal Graham's sense of beauty and her remarkable ability to translate pure, raw emotions into expressive movement. Freedman's lovely tribute makes us fully believe Graham when she says, "I did not choose to be a dancer, I was chosen." (Young Adult/Adult) --Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Elegant Trio of Words, Pictures and Feelings
This book is a beautiful, concise study of her life. Studying Martha Graham's life is an awakening experience. Reading Graham's memoir "Blood Memory" simultaneously provides a beautiful counterpoint, knowing the subject will not observe herself in the same way as her biographer.

I dance away from this book with a definite appreciation for Graham's brilliance in creativity and willingness to navigate the many rough patches she encountered AND give such a gift to humanity at the same time.

The numbers of influential people she touched is amazing and enlightening.

I suggest this book for any creative thinker: there are applications for all of us.

The Life of a Dancer
Martha Graham: A Dancers Life by Russell Freedman, the full-length biography of Martha Graham, takes a deep look into Martha and the peole around her. She was a dancer, teacher, and choreographer who changed the world. Her life began in Pittsburg where she was born in 1894. The book also tells about the lives of her dancers, students, close friends, and lovers. The biography goes into great detail up until the day she died in 1991.
I liked this book because of all the details it gives about her life and the way it tells about all the heroic things she did. I would recommend this book to dancers and people who enjoy the things Martha did in her 97 years of life.

Gorgeous pictures; no depth
I bought this book after reading an interesting article about Martha Graham in the New Yorker about a year ago. I was attracted to the book by the beautiful photography, in evidence on the cover (and throughout the book, as I soon learned). However, I was interested in reading about Martha's "demons" and character flaws, as well as her relationships and focus on archetypal figures in dance. Unfortunately, this book is a pretty happy-go-lucky, bland account of her life. In fact, it's so bland that I would have given it three stars if the pictures in it were not so beautiful and well-suited to the descriptions given in the text.

EXCELLENT!
This is a wonderful book and story. Being a dancer myself, I am very inspired. You'll enjoy Martha's "positive" attitude and wit throughout this story of the growth of a piece of history. Please, read this book, I recommend it!

Simple, and clear...
I am a former Graham Dancer, and when I saw this book, I had some very intense emotions, it shows Martha in her best years, the pictures are beautiful, some of them are very rare to see, and if you want to see the beauty, or the drama, of that Incredible American Woman, this is the book you need to own. As a Graham Based Dance Teacher, I use this book to show some intentions in the movement, or I simply quote her, I wish you a wonderful Journey in the world of Martha Graham... ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fascinating Guy, Fascinating Book
I'll tell you right off the top, I'm not a huge fan of Broadway musicals. Mostly I'm a fan of Fosse because of his films, which rank among my favorites. But regardless of any of that, Fosse's personality and his life make him a fascinating subject for biographical study.

Gottfried's book is heavily detailed, describing the events of Fosse's life, exploring his work and his personal realtionships, and really getting inside the man's head, all the while maintaining a very readable, and appropriately jazzy style. There's also enough quoted dialogue to keep the book flowing almost like a work of fiction.

A great read and an informative one. Highly recommended to fans of Fosse and his work, or those simply interested in one of the most intriguing of showbiz lives.

Pure Fun
Maybe I'm biased: I'm a shrink. I lived in New York in the early 80's. I knew some of the people mentioned in the book. But this was the most fun I've had reading since Letters from a Nut. Full of tidbits about a raft of celebrities. Another reviewer complained about the lack of pictures. Why stop there? We need all the films, too. Must watch All That Jazz again ASAP, AND try to get my hands on Sweet Charity and Cabaret. A great ride!

Jazzed out!
The book is very thorough and does give a very accurate blow by blow description of every moment in Bob Fosse's life. If you love the man and want to relive his life for him, read this book. On the other hand, if you are trying to do a paper, you might want to start reading this about 6 months before your paper is due. It is very hard to weigh through the many, colorful words and facts in this book in any small amount of time. I will someday read this book for pleasure but right now, after only reading three chapters (though be very interesting), I am totally jazzed out! phew!

Neither Hero Nor Villain
"All His Jazz" is compelling for the blow-by-blow account that it gives of Bob Fosse's unparalled career. It is probably one of the more comprehensive and insightful books about show business that has been written. The main problem with the book lies in his subject matter, which one would think would be untenable for a biography. Bob Fosse and those around him (with the exception of very few) come across as arrogant, self-centered, and certainly self-destructive. Hey, let's face it. Truth certainly can be stranger than fiction, but it kept me from really getting into the book on a personal level. I ended up angry more than sympathetic and incredulous more than intrigued. The other problem I had with the book is a noble one, but exposes the flaws all the same. There really are not enough photos to supplement the narrative. The only reason I say this is because so much attention is spent on the details of Fosse's career, that it is a shame there are so few photos representing his amazing stage career. We can all go rent the movies if we want to see what they are about, and it might not be a bad idea to watch "All That Jazz" (which, by the way, is one of my all time favorites) before picking up a copy of this book.

THE GREATEST BOOK ON EARTH!!
This book is one of , if not the, greatest books I have ever read. It reads so wonderfully. I read it in three days. It just flew off the pages. I can't give this book enough praise. FOSSE FANS READ THIS BOOK!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

LEARN TO BELLY DANCING - "Nefertiti presents BELLY DANCING the Basics", a 41 Page, Flip Style, Illustrated Book For Easily Learning Basic Belly Dance Moves. Detailed Instructions for 20 Basic Moves, Veil, Floor Work, and Zills. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

New lower price
The author has lowered the price to accommodate the wishes of her customers. Hope you like the new lower price.

Plus upgrades with a TOC, glossy white paper, and plastic wire spiral bound.

not much there
This book provides very little information even for a beginning dancer. Considering the lack of content it is much too pricey.

AuthorZone.Com Book Review
Back in 1975, a dancer named Nefertiti (Doris Demarest-Nemeth) in Phoenix, Arizona began working on a "how to belly dance" book project. For unknown reasons, she did not complete the project. Decades later, her daughter decided to use the photos that had been taken for the book, add text, and finish the project. This book is the result.
The format of this book is that of a simple "how to" manual for beginning belly dance. There are about 20 basic moves taught, a page on posture, a page about finger cymbals, and a few veil ideas. Some of the moves include hip bounce, half moon, hip thrust, hip shimmy, sit-kick front, sit-kick side, sit-kick back, lean-kick, single-leg shimmy, backward figure 8, shoulder thrust, shoulder shimmy, shoulder roll, pelvic tilt, belly roll, head slides, and snake arms. The veil work section talks about how to wrap it, how to remove it, and how to do a few simple moves. The floor work section talks about how to do a Turkish drop (which seemed a bit odd for what is otherwise a beginning-level book), the sway, the half wedge, and the full wedge. For each item taught, there is a picture of Nefertiti accompanied by several bullets with explanation and a few tips. In some places, diagrams accompany the photo to offer further clarification.
Since the photos of Nefertiti were taken in 1975, the book definitely has a strong retro flavor to it.
Although I think it would be difficult for someone to learn how to belly dance solely by using a book, it can be helpful to use a book when the explanation offered by your teacher or video on how to do a certain move isn't entirely clear. A book like this can offer another way of describing the same move, and help someone who is struggling see it in a different way. For belly dance teachers, this sort of "how to dance" book can also offer alternate ways to describe a move when teaching it.

Its Good Points
This book is well suited to readers who want something simple and not too intimidating to assist with their belly dance study. The photos and simple large-font text would probably be particularly appealing for younger readers, or for people who want to ease in gently with the basics, without digesting too much at one time.
For the most part, I found that the descriptions of the moves worked well for me. The text was simple, and it was very easy to tie descriptions to the pictures. Many of the photos illustrating moves were augmented with arrows, lines, or diagrams to help show the direction of motion.
I was charmed by the fact that Sherry honored her mother by completing a project that her mother had begun in 1975. It's a lovely tribute, especially since her mother passed away in 1999.
The spiral binding conveniently lies open to the page of choice, which can be useful when studying a particular move.
On her web site (see "Where to Get It" below), Sherry offers sample pages from the book under "Online Lessons". This provides an opportunity to preview what the book looks like before buying it.

On The Negative Side....
With only 40 pages and a large typeface, the book is fairly short. It might have been nice to have either an index or a table of contents identifying page numbers for each move.
The plastic spiral binding is a bit of a nuisance when the book sits on the bookshelf, because it takes up more space than other kinds of bindings and it's impossible to tell by looking at the spine which book it is when it's sitting next to other spiral-bound books.
There were a number of typing and grammatical errors. For example, on page 8 is says, "This is knowing as Parallel Position", when it should have said, "This is known..." It would have been helpful if Ankestamen had asked someone to help proofread it.

In Conclusion
It's hard to learn how to dance from printed text. However, if you have access to either a teacher or a video that demonstrates what the move looks like in motion, the written text in a "how to dance" book like this can help clear up confusion. Sometimes, it's helpful for either a teacher or a student to have more than one explanation on how to do a move, and this type of how-to book can help with that. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Easy to follow, splendid jazz training system
As a former dancer, now teacher and choreographer, I have been dancing and teaching Luigi's style for many years(without reading his book). I was taught by an amarican dancer, so when I recently read the book, I was surprised how well known the exercises and not less Luigi's philosophy was to me. The book is a perfect way to learn jazz, diff. steps (lots of small photographs) and not to forget his brilliant idea why to "take the barre with you" out on the floor. The most complete jazz system I've ever trained.
The book is easy read, easy to follow even for beginners, and not to forget - a perfect way to get strong,long and smooth muscles. I can only recommend the book - a fine supplement to related books and videos.

A great book for those interested in dance
I thought this book was great! Luigi's personal and professional story is truly inspirational. All aspects of this book was well written. I found the content of this book a tremendous help. I highly recommend it to those such as myself who have never taken a dance class, but are interested in signing up for class and need to prepare in advance for flexibility, strength, etc. The book is easy to follow; the photographs give plenty of visual detail and the descriptions are specifically written to be easily followed by a novice. The exercises in this book condition the body wonderfully in preparation for dance. ... Read more

Book Description

Dancing was important to the ancient Egyptians. One of the few books available in English on this topic, this carefully researched, profusely illustrated work investigates the origins, nature and role of dance in Egyptian culture. Gymnastic, imitative, dramatic, lyrical, etc. 80 figure drawings and illustrations adapted from tomb paintings, reliefs, other authentic sources. New introduction. Bibliography.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

A scholarly overview on Ancient Dances
This nice book contains many interesting and thought-provoking studies on ancient Egyptian dances, being the only book (known to me) on the subject to deal with the same in a wide-range way. The authoress analyses not only relgious or "sacred" dance, but also those apparently belonging to more "profane" aims. She also proffer several hypothesis concerning the movements of certain dances, which is not usual in other treatises. A most welcomed title.

Then and now
Excellent resource on the history, mystery and origins of belly dance. Has sections on purely movemental dance, gymnastic dance, imitative dance, dramatic dance, lyrical dance, funeral dance, religious dance, accompaniments of the dance, dance with musical instruments, movements of the legs, arms, and trunk, costumes of the ancient Egyptian women and men dancers, a note on the historical development of the ancient Egyptian art of dancing, and a note on the Egyptian dances, as performed by modern women dancers. ... Read more

Book Description

For women who are eager to exercise their mind, body, and spirit, bellydancing is a no-impact exercise that burns fat, increases flexibility, and complements the natural movements of the body. Providing a structured approach to learning the basics, with step-by-step instructions and helpful photographs, Bellydance is the perfect reference for getting fit and having fun. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The leading book on Balinese dance
I am Balinese and the Balinese like this book.

It is a joint work - the text was written by Beryl de Zoete, a British dance critic, on the basis of notes and information given to her by Walter Spies, a German polymath, who lived in my village, Ubud, in the Thirties. Most of the photographs in the book are his.

My mother worked for Walter Spies. He lived in a small house, just opposite the place where my restaurant now is. Walter Spies was an artist, photographer, musician, anthroplogist and a person who attracted many famous people to Bali in the Thirties.

This book is very detailed and is the most comprehensive book written so far on Balinese dance and drama. It is rather difficult to follow what is going on in Balinese dance, and the explanations will undoubtedly help the traveler. Although detailed, it is readable.

There is a very good introduction by Professor Michael Hitchcock, who is an enthusiastic authority on many aspects of Balinese culture. ... Read more

Book Description

Grace under Pressure is a series of insightful essays by Ms. Newman and a collection of stimulating interviews with movers and shakers of today's dance world. They are: Suki Schorer, Violette Verdy, Kathryn Wade, Mark Morris, Anne Marie Vessel, Margaret Mercier, Robert Denvers, Richard Thomas, Sorella Englund, Marc du Bouays, Helgi Tomasson, Francia Russell, Maina Gielgud, David Bintley, Irina Kolpakova, Yuri Fateyev, Jean-Pierre Frohlich, Shelley Washington.

Grace under Pressure provides a brief history of important schools in four countries as well as a detailed overview of the audition policy, curriculum and pedagogic philosophy that shape each one. In dance as in every academic discipline, the classroom is a testing ground for dedicated pupils, who must constantly adapt to the rigorous demands of their chosen art. The subjects in this book speak openly about the challenges they face themselves as they attempt to breathe new life into familiar performance pieces and imbue each student with a unique love of dance that surpasses the drive for physical perfection. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

For anyone contemplating a life in ballet
In Grace Under Pressure: Passing Dance Through Time, ballet expert Barbara Newman (Dance Critic of "Country Life" magazine and a journalist contributor to "Dancing Times"), has compiled remarkably informative interviews with eighteen contemporary illuminaries of the world of dance. This impressive collection of leading dancers and renowned dance instructors ranging from Suki Schorer (School of American Ballet) and Marc Du Bouays (Paris Opera Ballet School) to Yuri Fareyev, Margaret Mercier, and Richard Thomas. Enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone contemplating a life in ballet, Grace Under Pressure offers the reader a diverse selection of insights into the dedicated life and working world of the contemporary ballet as the aspirants experience the hard work and intense discipline for learning and practicing this demanding art. ... Read more

Book Description

This guide provides a thorough examination of the pointe technique and pointe shoes. Dancers tired of their pointe shoes wearing out too quickly benefit from research that illuminates the shoemaking process and tips that show how to best fit, care for, and custom order their shoes. Interviews with ballet stars Martine van Hamel and Darci Kistler reveal their highly evolved but proven methods of caring for pointe shoes. The basics of the pointe technique, different pointe methods, and the history of pointe are discussed. A handy reference on pointe-related injuries and their remedies is included. This new edition offers the latest information on contemporary designs, materials, products, and suppliers. A sampling of pointe technique schools around the country offers an authoritative syllabus for teachers and students alike. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

this is really helpful
since i have just started pointe this book has really helped me break in my shoes and give me really good excercises to stregthen my ankles. one of the people in this book is my ballet teacher so that is even better. if u have just started pointe or have been on it for a while or even if u dont do pointe this book is really interesting and helpful.

This is the most thorough and informative book on pointe!
When I first learned pointe, I studied at two different dance schools. My instructor at each school gave a short lecture on the foot and pointe dancing in general, and the majority of their presentations came from "The Pointe Book". I quickly went out and bought it and now as a teacher myself, I require my students to get and read "The Pointe Book". I have not found any other work to be as thorough and informative -- who knew that so much was involved in a pair of shoes?! If a student only reads part of the book, I would recommend the chapters on proper pointe shoe fitting and pointe-related injuries. The chapter laying out a sample pointe class has come in handy for some of my beginning work with students and also provides them with exercises to do on their own. My favorite chapter, though, would have to be Conversations on Pointe, which has pointe stories from many well-known dancers. It was great knowing that some of my opinions and experiences are also shared by some of the greats! Janice Barringer and Sarah Schlesinger have done all of us dancers a great favor with "The Pointe Book". ... Read more

Book Description

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A Must Have for the Historical Dance Enthusiast
This book is a wonderful reference tool for anyone interested in historical dancing! Translated and Edited by none other than Julia Sutton, this book explains many of the social dances and practices of the aristocrats. It includes the dance steps, an explanation of how they occur, music, and labnotation. This book is truly a must have for anyone with a serious desire to understand dance practices of the times! ... Read more

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Capoeira at the border to Brazil.
Yes, I think this book deserves five stars, because it gave me insight; both professional and personal. Training Capoeira for seven years (including two trips to Brazil for the same reason) has taken me to the strange border between two cultures: my own Danish average European socio-historic background, and the Afro-brazilian transcultural vegetation in which Capoeira flourishes. Alouring - and as Lewis notes: deceptive, Capoeira as a performance reveals conflictuality on the Afro-brazilian social and historical level, which differs from the writers own background; in this case quite similar to my case. The task of relating to this difference is met by Ring of Liberation through respect of the ontic 'way' of the capoeirista, and at the same time maintaining an epistemic approach. What this means, is that Ring of Liberation can be read by the intellectual layman as well as the non-brazilian capoeira enthusiast, as a guide to experiences already had or about to happen...great stuff!

Biased, perhaps, but not an "agenda of subjugation"
I used this book, along with a host of other books, transcripts, articles and recordings of capoeira to complete my undergraduate thesis in anthropology. Regarding an earlier post here, i don't think that Lewis was trying to necessarily undermine the black African origins of capoeira, but rather his experiences with capoeiristas around Brazil led him to focus on the wholly Brazilian cultural aspects (samba, too, is a cultural phenomenon with roots in Africa). While i do belive that his treatment of the African origins of capoeira were sketchy, this is to be expected as the data on capoeira's African origins is not very clear, and to the best of my knowledge is to date a matter of conjecture. The only truth regarding that matter is that capoeira did come from Africa with the (primarily West African) slaves and developed into modern capoeira while in Brazil. This last part, "in Brazil", is something that I stress in the sense that although many Caribbean and South American nations received slaves from the same parts of Africa, only Brazil's slaves and mulattos produced capoeira.

More to the point of this type of entry: the book is a definite must-read for anyone (capoeirista or not) interested in the modern expressions of african diasporan culture.

DAMN IT, IT'S GOOD!
I found that this is a VERY true to actual accounts of Capoeira. I've been practising Capoeira myself for a while now, and this book reflex the views that I, and most of my Groups shares. It would seem very one-sided, but you NEED to be a Capoeirista to fully understand the concpts and ideas and history of this book. To me, A VERY GOOD BOOK ON WHAT I BELIEVE

PEACE

A nicely writen book about a misterious sport
This book brings a good deal of information on the history of capoeira and on the phylosophy behind it. After a few years practicing it, I finally had in my hands some background to understand some of the the principles, and part of the history of this sport. The author apparently has had contact with many mestres, both in Brazil and in the US, and has done quite an intensive survey on historical records, to get to his conclusions. Furthermore, he analyzes capoeira under an anthropological light, giving a scientific taste to the book that we don't find in most publications about it (although I don't agree with some of his interpretations). My only complain is that I would like to see more figures in the book, which would make it more interesting to people with less knowledge on the subject.

Another biased account of Capoeira!
Another biased account of Capoeira which lacks the scientific rigor to connect Capoeira with its African roots. Ring of Liberation, attempts to assert Capoeira as a Brazilian art form and strips it of its African roots. Lewis's basic premise traces Capoeira to samba circles in 19th century Brazil. It remains to be seen how Capoeira could develope its fighting elements through urban samba circles in Bahia. Lewis utilizes anthropological jargon to complicate the story of Capoeira, it seems to be a mask to hide his agenda. An agenda which seeks to undermine Capoeira as an empowering agent for its descendants (Africans in the Diaspora). Ring of Liberation should be praised as another book about Capoeira, but severly critisized for its biased nature and cultural disempowering approach! ... Read more

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The lesson plans in Interdisciplinary Learning Through Dance: 101 MOVEntures are broad (covering six disciplines) and deep (101 plans in all). Each lesson is based on national standards and has been field tested with students in grades K-5 with positive results. In fact, both teachers and students enjoy the plans and the learning gained through Interdisciplinary Learning Through Dance: 101 MOVEntures.

Teachers value the materials: a book, a music CD to be used with selected lessons, and a 60-minute DVD that demonstrates teaching methodologies and shows selected lesson plans in action. All are designed to be used in lessons that focus on science, social studies, language arts, math, physical education, and creative arts.

Students respond with enthusiasm to the active learning of subjects through playful movement.The book’s content inspires engaging and active learning with these features: • Basic language of dance • How-tos of lesson planning• Classroom-management techniques • Thinking tools for promoting conceptual understanding • Assessment choices and forms

Each lesson plan addresses the national standards for dance and the core curriculum subject areas, as well as the grade level, length, student objectives, and materials needed. In addition, each plan contains these special features: • Introduction • Moving adventure • Assessment • Extensions

The book explores the benefits of crossing curricular boundaries with dance and delves into the vocabulary of dance and the pedagogy for creating moving adventures, or MOVEntures. It lays out the 101 lesson plans in six disciplines, providing assessment tools, lesson schematics, and additional resources– including the national standards and thinking tools.

Complete. Cross-disciplinary. Broad and deep. Instructive. And fun. Teachers can’t go wrong with Interdisciplinary Learning Through Dance: 101 MOVEntures, because the students learn the subjects and come back wanting to learn more. ... Read more

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read this book.
Intensely personal, theoretically sophisticated, and written in absolutely gorgeous prose, SAMBA explores the intersections of spirituality, human embodiment, and politics through an extended meditation on the author's coming to know Brazilian Samba. ... Read more

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Virtually everyone working in dance today uses electronic media technology. Envisioning Dance on Film and Video chronicles this 100-year history and gives readers new insight on how dance creatively exploits the art and craft of film and video. In 53 essays, choreographers, filmmakers, critics and collaborating artists explore all aspects of the process of rendering a three-dimensional art form in two-dimensional electronic media. Many of these essays are illustrated by 93 photographs and a 2-hour DVD (40 video excerpts). ... Read more

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Broad outline of an important subject.
If the interaction of dance and film/video intrigues you, you will want this book and DVD. It's not an encyclopedia or a textbook on the topic. On the contrary, it's more like a college symposium; most of the chapters are designed to convince you that the writer is an authority, without giving away the whole store. Use this book as you would an atlas or a National Geographic article before going on your own journey. ... Read more