Ballet School (Viking Kestrel picture books) [Hardcover]

Camilla Jessel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000 | Age Level: 7 and up | Series: Viking Kestrel picture books

For every child who dreams of being a ballet dancer.

From auditions through daily classes to rehearsals and performances, renowned dance photographer Camilla Jessel gives young readers an intimate glimpse inside life at England's Royal Ballet School. Illustrated with several full-color photos on each spread, Ballet School describes the daily routine of classes and exercises, and the repetition and hard work of training. It also provides a history of ballet and its most famous choreographers. Photographed inside the school itself, the book will enthrall readers with its depiction of what it takes to become one of the world's greatest dancers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-7-This attractive, lavishly illustrated volume presents life at England's Royal Ballet School, from auditions to classes to summer performances. The focus is on dance; there are only two pages on academics and pupils' recreation, and nothing about the boarding-school environment. Though ballet lovers will be fascinated by both the text and full-color photos, this offering gives just enough information to whet their appetites-much more is left unsaid. The book is not well organized, and a two-page spread on the history of dance is ludicrously abbreviated and unnecessary. In the end, Ballet School is a curiosity. It doesn't introduce readers to dance technique, like Darcey Bussell's The Young Dancer (DK, 1994). Nor does it cover the history of the art form and famous ballets, choreographers, and dancers, like Kate Castle's Ballet (Kingfisher 1996). Jessel's Life at the Royal Ballet School (Methuen, 1979) is a far more thorough and satisfying treatment, even though it is less visually appealing than this new title.
Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This large-format book takes readers behind the scenes to visit England's Royal Ballet School. Pupils at the school study traditional academics and athletics, as well as art, music, drama, and ballet. Through the excellent full-color photos and accompanying text, readers will gain a realistic sense of the daily work and dedication that enables promising young students to grow into fine dancers. Though few American children may aspire to study at the Royal Ballet School, the many who dream of dancing on stage someday will find this an enticing look at dancers in the making. An attractive addition to larger ballet collections. Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670886289
• ISBN-13: 978-0670886289
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,390,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inferior Quality, December 31, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ballet School (Viking Kestrel picture books) (Hardcover)

I bought this book from Amazon, and returned it. I own the author's earlier book, Life at the Royal Ballet School, and this new book on the same subject unfortunately lacks magic and charm. The text emphasizes the arduous aspects of the training, the difficulty and self sacrifice of the students. The rewards of pursuing a great art are somehow given short shrift. And inexplicably, the studio photos are uniformly grainy and indistinct. The ballet students manage to seem awkward and unattractive. I wish this book had conveyed the romance and beauty of ballet, as did the author's previous book on the Royal Ballet school. An update is needed, but this book is, alas, not an improvement.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ballet School shows the epitome of ballet student standards, April 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ballet School (Viking Kestrel picture books) (Hardcover)

This book is very well suited for the aspiring young ballet student. Although it shows the prestious English Royal Ballet School, it shows the standard which all ballet students should reach. The young students auditioning for entrance are already well trained, and their physique is evident in the beautiful photos. The photos are more prolific than the writing, which is what is important in ballet - the look, the style, the training. All parents of children who aspire to a ballet career should view this book to see what is expected in London, and therefore, the standard set for ballet students all over the world.