Ballet: From the First Plie to Mastery, An Eight-Year Course [Paperback]

Anna Paskevska (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 21, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0415942918 | ISBN-13: 978-0415942911 | Edition: 1

This text is designed as a complement to a beginning student's ballet training. The book opens with a brief description of the benefits of ballet training to young dancers, and then introduces fundamentals and precepts of the technique. Clear photographs show exactly how to execute each movement. Then an eight-year course is presented, taking the student from the age of five or six through the teen years, outlining exactly what is to be taught and how it is to be performed. For ballet students, their parents and their teachers, this work gives a basic overview of ballet technique that should be a useful reference as well as a guide to training.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anna Paskevska is Chair of the Dance Department at the Chicago Academy for Arts. She previously served on the faculties of Indiana University and the University of Louisville, Kentucky. She is the author of Both Sides of the Mirror: The Science and Art of Ballet.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (June 21, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415942918
• ISBN-13: 978-0415942911
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,655 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent for teachers, October 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Ballet: From the First Plie to Mastery, An Eight-Year Course (Paperback)

this is a perfect guide for a syallabus for a dance school.
That is what I'm doing with it. I am a professional ballet dancer that has danced with major dance companies in the USA. I needed a good guide to teach young beginners I am teaching.This book is a perfect guide in teaching young beginners through to advance students. The stretches taught are real perks for the students to gain the flexibility they need for the years new steps. Also the strenghtening back exercises are exactly what children need in order to do arabesques and other steps. I am also a pilates instructor and these stretches and strengthening floor exercises are perfect. I wouldn't reccommend this book to a child since it is very detailed in words but to a 12-13year old that likes to read and dance it might be just what she likes! and it will give her some good pointers.
Best of luck
T.T.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book about real ballet, it's no picture book, September 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Ballet: From the First Plie to Mastery, An Eight-Year Course (Paperback)

If want your child to read some ballet picture book that they can color in, don't buy this book. This book is an indepth look into the technique of ballet. I sat down and read it with my seven year old. The author is so describtive that the pictures are not even needed. My daughter could perfectly comprehend the technique. This isn't a book of flashy technique or shortcuts around the technique, but of the simple,perfect technique. This is for parents and children who thinking of starting in seriuos ballet. I applaud Anna Paskevska for this delightful book on beginning ballet.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Resource for Ballet Teachers, June 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Ballet: From the First Plie to Mastery, An Eight-Year Course (Paperback)

I am in the process of writing curriculum for the studio that I teach at, and this has been an indespensable resource for a teacher. It had easy to follow sample classes that help you to get an idea of how to teach the classical vocabulary for that level. I found some of my all time favorite combinations in this book. Fabulous resource if you want to make sure your students are keeping up the ballet world!