Basic Ballet: The Steps Defined (Penguin Handbooks) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The usual practice dress for a ballet class consists of a simple tunic or leotard, with socks or tights and soft leather ballet shoes..." (more)
Key Phrases: spring into the air, working leg, supporting leg

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (June 26, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014046445X
• ISBN-13: 978-0140464450
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #99,758 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basic Ballet defines 120 pages of ballet steps beautifully., July 28, 1997

By A Customer

For ballet students, instructors, and performers: Basic Ballet by Joyce Mackie is a must for the studio. The ballet steps are carfully defined and easy to follow through the step by step illistrations. Many of the defined steps are basic, but a good number of them are intermediate to advanced in ballet training. If you're serious about ballet, you want this book

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little reference book, May 4, 2001

By	Christine "cmtirpak" (Bergen County, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

"Basic Ballet" by Joyce MaaKie is a great (no-nonsense) reference book for the ballet enthusiast, regardless of age. It explains the positions throughly and with lots of photos. The only thing that would make it better would be to increase the size of the pictures and make it a wire-bound book so it stays open when performing the techniques.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Useful Reference Book, August 7, 2001

By	Peppermint (Nevada, United States) - See all my reviews

This very complete volume is a lovely gift book as well as a useful reference book. The only weakness is the lack of emphasis on arm positions when doing the steps although they are illustrated in the photographs. I believe dancers who have experienced the following will find it useful too: When I was a student of ballet, I was frustrated by the subtle differences in the standards of different teachers. Sometimes I wondered, "So how EXACTLY am I supposed to do this?" I did not enjoy being corrected for what a prior instructor had taught me and pronounced well-executed. This book would have clarified things for me at the time. Now that I practice alone, I find this book invaluable. Also, I support Christine's review dated May 4, 2001.