Gretchen Ward Warren

Beautiful illustrations (although I found the flesh-toned bodysuits kind of creepy at times), and very useful diagrams of technique. A lot of this book is for advanced dancers but even beginners like me can benefit from how to hold the barre properly, correct foot and body positioning in each position, etc.

These pieces are really transcribed Q&As, and the editorial decision to style them as journalistic profiles is inefficient and annoying - there's just not enough postprocessing being done to justify it. As a reader and as a reporter and editor, I've never thought there was anything wrong with a good Q&A. Just look at the Paris Review Writers at Work series, whose counterpart this book could have been. Dance teachers will probably find the visualizations and exercise listings from each show more teacher useful. show less

This book was very useful when I was translating a book with ballet terminology: the descriptions are clear and there are lots of photos.

A very useful manual of tecnhique. Detailed instructions for execution of steps, including variations (e.g. soviet style).