Nonfiction:
The Young Dancer by Darcey Bussel- An excellent book by on of England's greatest Ballerinas. Makes a great gift for the younger dancer, but can be enjoyed by dancers of any age. Wonderfully well-written, with great photographs. Appropriate for children and teens, but enjoyable for everyone.
Fiction:
Ballet Stories collected by Harriet Castor- A collection of ballet stories; both fiction and nonfiction, about anyone from students to legends like Margot Fonteyn. Great for children and teens.
For Teens and Adults:
Nonfiction:
Classical Ballet Technique- A wonderful book for any ballet dancer of any level. Includes comple definition of steps, positions, and technique, as well as detailed photos. Appropriate for teens and adults.
The Pointe Book: Shoes Training and Technique by Janice Barringer- Articles about the history of pointe, when a student should (or should not) go onto pointe, and the physics of pointe work. Descriptions of different pointes shoes, as well as stores, locations, and ordering information are included, along with a section of pointe-class exercises. This is good for both teachers and students alike! Now in a second edition.
Tributes: Celebrating Fifty years of The New York City Ballet- Full of stories, poems, and articles about NYCB. There are many pictures; paintings, costumes, set designs, as well as beautiful pictures of NYCB back in the day. Makes a great gift!
101 Stories of the Great Ballets by George Balanchine and Francis Mason- The title is pretty self-explanatory, Great to read before you see a ballet-- or if you're in one!
Fiction:
Aria of the Sea by Dia Calhoun- This is a fantasy novel, set in the fantastical Kingdom on Windward. Althought the setting is ficticious, the storyline and events are as real as can be. A good book for middle and high school students.
Dancer by Lorri Hewett- The story of a 16-year-old black ballet student's journey to discover love and importance with the help of a special teacher and her teenage nephew. Very well-written, and especially appealing to teens and pre-professional students.
White Swan, Black Swan: Stories by Adrienne Sharp- Written by an ex-ballet dancer, this collection of short stories appeals to mature readers and advanced to professional dancers. The stories detail the issues facing professional ballet dancers in New York and California, from relationships to performances to directors and choreographers. The book takes more of a "backstage" look to the world of ballet. VERY well written, my favorite book. Includes mature themes.
Fiction Series
For Young Dancers and Teens
No Way Ballet by Suzanne Weyn- This is a rather juvenile series (ifth-grade reading level), but still very enjoyable. The series is about three young girls, forced to take ballet, who grow to love it. Easy reading, and very cute!
Heart Beats by Elizabeth Rees- Teen romance novel meets ballet meets ballroom dancing. These stories take place at a Ballet-and-Ballroom school called Dance Tech. Sounds cliche, but holds the interest.
Satin Slippers by Elizabeth Bernard- These are out of print, but you may be able to find them in a library. They're almost a book version of Center Stage ten years before the movie, in the San Franciso Ballet Academy (A take-off of SF Ballet school).
