ktxx22's review against another edition
I’m DNFing this book at 42%. Not because it’s not incredibly well written or interesting it’s just not holding my interest. If you’re someone who desires a in depth history of Ballet you’ll love this book. But I do not think this is good for the casual ballet fan/ dancer. This has an audience, but that audience isn’t me.
coollibrarian's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
kellyroberson's review against another edition
4.0
Lots and lots and lots of names. Wish more would have been spent on under recognized dancers. Pessimistic at the end. Still a really well done piece of work.
tinylittlehobbit's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
It was interesting to see how ballet seems to have come full circle, from being an art for the few and elite, to being seen as something for the common people, and then back to a dying elitist art in the present age.
The background of it being steeped in faith and sexuality in a myriad of different ways also caught my interest. I'm here for the heartbeat of queerness and god that runs through the history.
The book itself could kind of drag on a bit, and was dry as a bone in some ways, but informative.
The background of it being steeped in faith and sexuality in a myriad of different ways also caught my interest. I'm here for the heartbeat of queerness and god that runs through the history.
The book itself could kind of drag on a bit, and was dry as a bone in some ways, but informative.
anniew415's review against another edition
3.0
I was so eager to read this book but by the end I was completely bored with it. Yes, it's a history of ballet, but I don't really have a better understanding of the art, even after 550 oversized pages. There was lots of talk of technique and steps, etc, but as a reader I had no baseline understanding of any of these things so I had no idea how they adapted or changed, depending upon the era or artist being discussed.
I'm not a dancer, but I appreciate dance and love attending the ballet. The author claims ballet is a dying art in her conclusion, and after all of that text I almost felt grateful. Just kidding, I hope it's not true, but I was so glad this book was over when I finished it!
I'm not a dancer, but I appreciate dance and love attending the ballet. The author claims ballet is a dying art in her conclusion, and after all of that text I almost felt grateful. Just kidding, I hope it's not true, but I was so glad this book was over when I finished it!
cloudss's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
cultural history of classical dance, who's who's of choreographers & dancers & composers, situating each school of dance in the political history that created ballet in each era. Starts with the French, then to the Italians, Danes, RUSSIANS, British, and finally Americans. FACINATING. describes dance in a beautiful and clear way, including the personalities of those involved as well as their achievements.