This is my "ballet bible" it is the best ballet reference guide I hae found. It is even better than my college ballet books (I was a dance major).

Classical Ballet Technique (Paperback)
by Gretchen Ward Warren

I am a teacher in Australia
AN AWESOME BOOK IS

"Think like a Champion, Dance like a Star"
www.grantdavies.tv

This is one of the most powerful dance books in Australia.
Selling over 2000 copies in 6months.

It is written by dance coach Grant Davies from www.rgdance.com

visit "Think like a Champion, Dance like a Star"
www.grantdavies.tv

You can order online at the website and also sign up for the online newsletter.

Here is a quote from the back of the book.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE DANCERS BODY IS BETWEEN THE EARS.
"Think like a Champion, Dance like a Star"
www.grantdavies.tv

thans so much for sharing your book list. i must get more education books in the studio!!

Thank you so much! I am working on building a library at my studio and this helps me so much with choosing books. I always like to here reviews first on book or cd's I have not read or listened too. All of you are a big help. Thanks!!!!!

Thanks these will come in very handy. Where is the best place to order from in your experience?
momdancer

Hellow,
You can order "Think like a Champion, Dance like a Star"
online at

www.grantdavies.tv

Hope you enjoy it.

"Classical Ballet Tech.." Can be ordered from Amazon.com, they actually have a wide selection of dance books. I hope this helps.

I believe that a good reference book for ballet is one that puts the moves in ordinary terms. It makes it so much easier when I am frantically looking for something different for class! "100 Classes in Classical Ballet" by Vera S. Kostrovitskaya has come in handy time after time. It's a progression thru 8 years of ballet lessons. Hope that helps!

so true, .......to have some reviews of other cds would be great......getting ready to pick out christmas music for christmas program and so burned out.... would love some new ideas!! Need pre thur grade. Teen and adult are lot more available. Just tired of same old same old....

I was tired of the same old songs too. The 'Trans Siberian Orchestra' rescued me. Also, 'Manheim Steamroller' has good Christmas Music. The song arrangements are really different plus there are quite a few CD's available. Good Luck!

thanks.... I have used them, they are good.... need some cutsey songs for kids..( used some Kidz Bps last year)...guess I am getting off track posting this in books to build libray. Sorry.thanks again for reply.

Thanks for the info. I use the computer for most of my research. I also have the CD Ballet is fun and it is great to refer to.

Hi
You can order some ballet books via the Dancing Times magazine - they have an excellent mail order service with a large selection of media - books, vidoes, cd's, dvd's. What's nice is the description provided with each item - you're not ordering blind! www.dancing-times.co.uk

My favourite book is also Dance Technique and Injury Prevention. I believe there are 2 authors - can't remember no 2, but the first author is Justin Howes (i think ! mine is also in a box somewhere after a move!) This book is a MUST for all aspiring and existing ballet teachers.

Also try www.dancebooks.co.uk - GREAT site for ordering all dance related items.

What an awesome list. I am new to the dance.net family and really appreciate all the positive messages I have read. I recently opened my own Performing Arts School and I want to stay pluged into the world of the arts. Thank you for sharing this list.

Great list: I also use 100 lessons in Classical Ballet. It works really well when you don't have a class prepared:) It gives you Barre, Center, etc. Mostly Vagonava method

Thank you soo much, the classical ballet technique was not only useful to me, but many of our other teachers.

These are all great suggestions, but I'm really surprised no one has mentioned 'Ballet Basics' or 'Ballet: Beyond the Basics' both by Sandra Noll Hammond. Although they are typically used more as textbooks, they do a great job of illustrating the movements and explaining the "whys" and "hows." For my younger students, I really like:
1. 'First Lessons in Ballet' by Lise Friedman - It's short and doesn't cover a ton of movements (only about 25), but the photographs are very clear.
2. 'The Illustrated Book of Ballet Stories' by Barbara Newman - It tells the stories of Coppelia, Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker and has beautiful illustrations and photographs.
3. 'The Young Dancer' by Darcey Bussell - great photos, informative and to the point - good for a beginner.

adridancer

*the only sin is mediocrity*~MG

OHHHH I love you! This is perfect. Thanks so much!!!!

Thank you sooo much for such a great list of books. I will definately be adding to my library.
It is so nice to GOOD books right at my finger tips.

Thanks again!

hi,
do you know any books on adagio either classical or acrobatic techniques.
many thanks,
Chris

for good creative movement games for 3-6 yr. olds - i use:

First Steps in Teaching Creative Dance to children (i use the 2nd and 3rd edition)

Dance technique for children

both of these books are by mary joyce

I LOVE the Gail Grant dictionary, and Tapworks by Beverly Fletcher. Jazz Dance Class by Gus Giordano is also helpful when trying to get new ideas and incorporate them into class

thanks 4 sendin these infos i really appreciate your tip but i live in nigeria and dont have a place to get them cud you please tell me where it can be gotten and how 2 get videos too

Kostrovitskaya's 100 Lessons and Vaganova's books are certainly the best. Also, for those who are interested to learn where and how "it all began", highly recommended is Jean-George Noverre's "Letters on Dancing and Ballets". Noverre is generally credited to be the founder of modern ballet as we know it. The book dates from the 1760s and can be a tough read at times but definitely worth it.

www.amazon.com . . .

There are also the outstanding books by Tarasov on male technique and Serebryannikov on pas-de-deux, but I have been unable to locate them in the US. If anyone knows where one can purchase these please email me.

Thanks to everyone who posted a list a great ballet books. I have a few to add that are excellent as well. I collect all kinds of books on ballet both modern and vintage - as a teacher I can never get enough! If someone else mentioned these already I apologize, but these are the books I love that I didn't see mentioned. Got all of them on ebay at great prices...

BOTH SIDES OF THE MIRROR by Anna Paskeva
Favorite part: It thoroughly describes what muscles are used in each of the traditional exercises and what sucessful execution of each will help the dancer to achieve.

TUNE UP YOUR TURNOUT by Deborah Vogel
Favorite part: Helpful in demystifying how turnout works and how to increase it safely.

THE CECCHETTI METHOD OF CLASSICAL BALLET by Beaumont and Idzikowski
Favorite part: Gives many full exercises that I refer to when I start to feel stale and in need of an infusion of ideas.

THE BALLET LOVER'S COMPANION
THE BALLET LOVER'S POCKETBOOK
THE BALLET-STUDENT'S PRIMER
all by Kay Ambrose

Favorite part: All the pictures in each one. These are older books but full of great info and pics.

JAZZ DANCE CLASS by Gus Giordano

Favorite part: Chock full of jazz class exercises, sometimes a litte hard to follow but really good ideas andsuggestions for barre, center, adage, and across the floor for beg - adv. jazz classes.


Hope these are helpful to you all!

"Dance is music made visible" Balanchine

Laurel