Basic Principles of Classical Ballet: Russian Ballet Technique

Agrippina Vaganova is legendary in the world of Russian ballet and, in fact, the Russian style of ballet is usually called the Vaganova style(the term "school" is usually used instead of style). The reader should keep in mind that this is a classic and not a modern tutorial; nevertheless, it is so well written that it is still useful to today's students. In these pages we can learn many little tips not found elsewhere. The book is amazingly complete, despite its small size. The book will be most appreciated by the more mature sudents of ballet. This classic is ALWAYS included in any serious ballet library!

As a student dancer I usually like to brush up on things that I wish I could at school or on the bus. It's a great book emphising on Russian Technique and basic steps. For eight bucks it was one of the most cheapest ballet books I have boughten. It goes straight into the positions of the feet. It tells you of what are the correct ways and what are the incorrect ways. It gives little drawings of a ballet practicing the step. If you can remember those little diagrams of the silloutte of feet for ballroom dancing, most of the diagrams are like that. In the drawings when a leg is suppose to switch or the body, little lines are drawn and it is almost impossible not to understand what the steps are drawn out to be. The only thing I wish was more of introduction to pointe. There are only a chapter dedicated to pointe work, clear and understandable on how to develop strength with echapes and releves. Even in the diagrams they give you Russian and French and Italian for some to show you the possible difference. This is a very detailed book, the only problem you would have if you didn't live in the ballet world at all. If your looking for an introduction I suggest the Royal Academy Ballet Book, but if you know your ballet terminology and learning how this manual will save you steps, get it. It helped me understand really what I was suppose to do. Visually you don't learn everything but it breaks it down perfectly to really know what your doing physically than visually.

It would be extremely difficult to add anything to the comment of Pamela Moberg below, exept that I would also like to recommend this book for musicians who are involved with ballet. As a (former) accompanist, I can tell you that the more you know about ballet the better you will do in classes. The book obviously is a great one or it would not have stood the test of time, but let's face it, I really bought it because it has a sample lesson at the end of the book that has music written out for each exercise! I did not end up using that music, but it really gave me a better understanding of what was going to take place in the class since I had never accompanied before. Musicians, do yourself a favor and buy the book.

I first received a copy of this book when I was 9 years old...it was recommended by one of my first ballet teachers. I loved looking at the illustrations, and discovering the spelling of terms that I was learning in class. I loved looking at the more advanced steps and their complexity. I still have that copy 20 years later. Now, I use it as a wonderful reference for teaching, and recommend it to my students. A valueable book that every dancer should have!