Ballet of the Elephants

Gigantic elephants dancing in elegant pink tutus along with human ballerinas sounds like pure fantasy--but it's all true. Considering the great showman, choreographer and composer involved in creating the actual circus show, it couldn't escape being an amazing production. Now it's all documented in a fascinating book, worthy of being appreciated by young and old. BALLET OF THE ELEPHANTS is well-written and exquisitely illustrated with dream-like art.

BALLET OF THE ELEPHANTS by Leda Schubert is a charming book telling the story of three talented men and fifty performing elephants. In April 1942, a unique show opened: Circus Polka, the brainchild of three men with very different backgrounds: John Ringling North, George Balanchine, and Igor Stravinsky. The book briefly describes the individual lives of the three men, the collaboration between the three men in the creative process, the training of the elephants in preparation for the show, and the show itself. The book concludes with background notes from the author which adds even more interest to the book. For example, the author notes that during her research she learned that "the elephants, even when they retired, so loved the ballet and were so well trained that they performed it all by themselves, without music." There is also a black and white photograph of the real performance!

This is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it for children and adults alike. This true story is simply and poetically described, giving very clear and interesting background on historical figures Stravinsky, Balanchine, and John Ringling North. The descriptions and illustrations of the elephant ballet are beautifully done, allowing the imagination to run wild at the thought of circus elephants in tutus, dancing a ballet. A truly magical book.