Classic Ballet

CONTENTS: * Classic Ballet: Historical Development - Lincoln Kirstein The Classic Ballet: Basic Technique and Terminology - Muriel Stuart * Part I - Exercises at the Bar (Intro to Bar Technique * Five Basic Positions * Plies * Battements * Ronds de Jambe * Releves) * Part 2: Exercises in the Center (Intro to Center Practice and Adagio * Basic Positions in the Center (Epaulement) * Basic Positions of the Body * Temps lie * Port de Bras * Attitudes * Arabesques * Fouette en face en l'air * Grand Fouette en tournant * Grand Rond de Jambe en l'air, terminating with Renverse en dehors * Pirouettes and turning movements * Linking steps and movements) * Part 3: Allegro (Introduction to Allegro * Jumps * Beats (Batterie)) * Part 4: Dance on Pointes (Introduction to Dance on Pointes * Basic Exercises on Pointes)

I purchased this book because I wanted an updated copy of the 1971 version. This book is practically identical to the older copy, but it's still great information and a really cool book.

This is a wonderful book for beginners as well as experienced dancers. In particular, this is one of the best references for barre exercises, but the center steps are well covered, too. This is actually my first choice when recommending barre exercise references, which is reason enough to include it in a ballet library.

This beautiful classic, repackaged by Alfred A. Knopf, will remain a treasured addition to the library of any lover of the ballet. Six hundred stunning illustrations, in 156 plates by Carlus Dyer bring life to the concepts.

I have the hard bound edition of this book, published some time ago by Alfred Knopf, and I never tire of looking at the drawings and appreciating the mathematical precision of classical ballet. The reading of this book will be of an enormous assistance to studying ballet, and it is also invaluable if one wants to study the more technical facets of the subject. Ballet is one form of dance that can be mathematically systemaitized and characterized, and this book is a great reference for such an undertaking. Definitely worth having and the paperback edition with its low price makes it completely accessible to all.