Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story

(Hardback)

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Publishing Details

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Description

Take a visual tour of ballet through the ages Uncover the most mesmerising moments in ballet history with this scintillating visual guide. Written with ballet legend Viviana Durante, this book will introduce you to the most famous performers and enthrall you with fascinating stories. Discover more than 70 celebrated dances, from The Nutcracker and Swan Lake to The Rite of Spring. Learn about renowned companies such as The Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet. Explore the lives of ballet dancers across the centuries, such as Margot Fonteyn, Carlos Acosta, and Darcey Bussell, and meet composers and choreographers, including the likes of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Matthew Bourne. Tracing the history of ballet all the way from its origins at court and the first institutes to the contemporary scene, this comprehensive yet accessible volume offers an unrivalled overview of this dance form. Rarely seen photographs covering key figures, pieces, and performances, alongside compelling facts about each dance - the sources they draw from, their production history, and their reception over time - make for a sumptuous visual treat and an essential gift for all dance and ballet enthusiasts.

Reviews

A heavy kaleidoscopic tome, a beautifully produced coffee table book [...] Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story is a welcome addition to any balletomane's library. * British Theatre Guide *

If you are looking for a present for a ballet lover, it is an excellent buy, lots of lovely photographs, accessible language and published at a very reasonable price. Dance
lovers could happily curl up and browse this well-presented book that offers such an
eclectic choice of material.

* Seeingdance.com *
A luxurious and substantial book - it needs its own table where it can be left open and adored. * The Lady *
For balletomanes of all ages, this hefty, richly illustrated book traces the history of 'a dance executed by the human soul', as Pushkin expressed it, from its beginnings in the court of Henri II and Catherine de' Medici in 16th-century France, to the present day. From romantic and classical to modern ballet, here is everything you could want to know, with profiles of the greats, dancers, ballets and more. * Saga Magazine *

Author Bio

Viviana Durante is considered to be one of the greatest, most dramatic ballerinas of her generation. Born in Rome, she became The Royal Ballet's youngest principal dancer at 21 and was also principal ballerina with American Ballet Theatre, Teatro alla Scala, and Japan's K-Ballet. Viviana holds a Diploma of Dance Teaching from The Royal Ballet School and a Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning from Trinity College, London. She coaches and teaches internationally.