So You Want to Dance on Broadway [Paperback]

Tina Paul (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0325005362 | ISBN-13: 978-0325005362 | Publication Date: April 24, 2003

Veteran performer and choreographer Tina Paul dispels myths and delivers the inside dope about achieving your dream of dancing on Broadway. Tommy Tune, Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth, and eleven other dancers join Tina in sharing their diverse experiences to help you make the right choices, avoid embarrassing mistakes, and prepare for the challenges that lead to a Broadway career. All of them agree-they love theatre and that love got them over many hurdles. Through tips on survival, discipline, and protocol, these professionals offer encouragement, bolster determination, and guarantee that you will be one step ahead in your quest for the lights and life of Broadway.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Unless you can achieve the impossible - assemble in one room all the dancers quoted here and make them talk practically - get this book now.”–Arthur Laurents

“To anyone who's ever contemplated a Broadway dancer's life, I can't imagine a more insightful, practical, and accurate guide.”–Jerry Zaks

“Some of the best nuts and bolts trade information from one of Broadway's greatest dancer/actresses. Tina and I did two shows together. I'm a big fan.”–Joel Grey

“. . . the real deal. A refreshingly honest and accurate guide by one of the best dancers ever to grace a Broadway stage.”–Rob Marshall

“I would hope every auditionee that I now come across will have read Tina Paul's wonderfully direct and truly illuminating book.”–Susan Stroman

“. . . so incredibly valuable that I'm jealous it didn't exist when I first hit New York.”–Tommy Tune

About the Author

Tina Paul's career on Broadway spans twenty-five years and thirteen shows. She has performed both leading and ensemble roles and has worked closely as a dancer and choreographer with some of Broadway's top directors. Her experience in musical theatre, directing, and teaching worldwide make her an expert advisor who knows the ropes from both sides of the casting table. Visit the author's website at www.danceonbroadway.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann Drama (April 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325005362
• ISBN-13: 978-0325005362
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,341,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for aspiring dancers!, July 11, 2010

By 

Alison D - See all my reviews

This review is from: So You Want to Dance on Broadway (Paperback)

This book is an invaluable source of information for those who want to dance on Broadway. The book is extremely informative and is written in an easy-to-read style. Broken up into sections on such topics as finding dance teachers and styles, becoming a "triple threat," whether or not to go to college, budgeting money, and preparing for auditions, the book manages to cover a wide range of information without becoming overwhelming or hard to digest. It also manages to have a tone that doesn't sugarcoat the struggle that comes with aspiring to be on Broadway, while at the same time isn't discouraging or cynical. Most importantly, the anecdotes and advice it provides from a wide range of musical theatre dancers, from those newer to the Broadway community to theatre legends like Chita Rivera and Tommy Tune, as well as the experience author Tina Paul brings to the book, give the information provided an immense amount of credibility--I mean, who better to learn about the musical theatre dance world from than Chita Rivera? This book allows the reader to learn from a wide range of experiences, not just one person's luck with the business. As well as this invaluable advice, simply reading the stories and insights that are provided by these theatrical greats is worth the price of the book alone. Definitely a must-read for any aspiring dancer!

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST read for anyone interested in Dancing on Broadway., August 1, 2006

By 

Dancer NY "Brad" (New York New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So You Want to Dance on Broadway (Paperback)

Tina Paul a broadway dancer and veteran of many shows does a remarkable job of laying out the facts on what it takes to live in New York City and land a job on the great white way. I found this book to be extremely informative to all aspring dancers and enjoyed her comic flair in talking about getting used to living in NYC and the competitive world of broadway auditions. In the book she has assembled the advice from other well known broadway dancers and choreographers Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, JoAnn Hunter, Graciela Daniels, Bebe Neuwirth, Luis Perez ( her husband ) among others in which I found to be very insightful on there experiences in starting out and making a career on broadway. My only dissapointment is that she did not include Nancy Lemenager who's broadway credits include the leads in Movin Out and Never Gonna Dance and who has become one of the Hottest broadway dancers out there.