Chronicling the lives of Maria Tallchief, Majorie Tallchief, Yvonne Chouteau, and Rosella Hightower, American Indian Ballerinas gives a good summary of each ballerina's life. That author sat down and thoroughly interviewed each woman really adds personality to American Indian Ballerinas...it not only tells us what happened, but us what the dancers were thinking.

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Balanchine is an important book for everyone to read, dancer or not. It tells the story of a great historical figure and one of the greatest choreographers of all time. The author has written a thoughtful account of Balanchine's legacy, from the making of his controversial will to the present day. This is a fascinating chronicle of the life of a truly great man.

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Martha Graham is an American icon. This book is important for anyone who wishes to learn about how modern dance came about. Martha Graham pioneered an entire new movement in the world of dance, and this book tells her story through the words of 30 of her very own dancers. You will read about her genius, personal life, and frightening temper. It is utterly fascinating. I loved it.

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This is the first dancer's autobiography I read and it inspired me to go out and buy ten more! Maria Tallchief is one of the greatest ballerinas in history and her story is amazing. She was Balanchine's interest as well as wife for many years, and he created many ballets for her. It was a shame to finish this book (I wanted it to go on forever!), but I am very glad I read it. Tallchief's autobiography is truly inspiring; it opened my eyes to the world of dance.

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Martha is a biography of one of the most important artists of our century, whose work in the theater and in dance helped define an era. It is important to read this book and I would recommend it to anyone interested with the history of dance and how modern dance came about. It also graphically describes the difficulties of the Depression and how hard it was for modern dance supporters to get recognized at that time.

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Allegra Kent, in her beatiful autobiography, recounts her rise and fall to fame. Her life was very full. Kent was singled out by George Balanchine as a special talent, and susequently was his muse for a number of years.

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This is an important book for every dancer to have. It contains hundreds of photographs of correct and incorrect body positions, grouped by category. It also has descriptions of ideal proportions for both male and female dancers.
Clasical Ballet Technique was extremely helpful to me; it allowed me to see exactly what it is I am striving for every day in class. There are some stunning photos as well.

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A comprehensive refrence manual of the causes, prevention, and healing of injuries that are prone to afflict all serious dancers. Dance Injuries shows how nutrition, posture, and psychology can contribute to injury. It also provides detailed instructions for strapping and paddint techniques that support injuries, and explores a wide range of therapies.
This is a very convenient book to have on-hand for that unexpected injury.

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This is a great book to have...whether you're a dancer or not. It is basically all about dieting and taking care of your body. What makes this book different from all those other diet books out there is that the methods are what professional dancers use. Kent is a dancer herself, so she asked collegues for tips and their recepies and included them in her book. There is also a one-week planner containing three healthy meals a day. This is a great book for anyone who wants to lose/maintain their weight.

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How to Dance Forever is a very thorough book on the best ways to maintain yourself into old age. It is greared towards very serious modern dancers, but it is good for everyone to read....even though I'm not a modern dancer I still follow some of Nagrin's tips. It's a great book to read.

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The New York City Ballet Workout : Fifty Stretches and Exercises
Anyone Can Do for a Strong, Graceful, and Sculpted Body
by Peter Martains, photographs by Paul Kolnik and Richard Corman

"For many years we've heard that ballet is unhealthy," Peter Martins, ballet master of the New York City Ballet, writes in his foreword to this unique fitness book. "Actually, I believe the reverse is true: Ballet is extremely healthy because it helps build your body in a natural, progressive way." Following his routine might not get you into the corps de ballet, but it may get you hard, lean abs and firm buttocks; a contoured waist; and that perfect posture and flexibility you've yearned for. Martins shares 50 strength-building exercises that were once restricted to the elite rehearsal studios of the New York City Ballet. He combines anecdotes about working with the company's occasional dance principle with clear explanations of the benefits and steps of the exercise. Martins's narrative encourages awareness of the body's innate grace. "You want to discover what dancers know instinctively--where the body is in space at all times, whether onstage, backstage, or at the supermarket."

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This book's got it all: the history of pointe, a discussion of the foot's anatomy, a discussion of pointe shoes, and information on injuries and remedies. For the begining pointe student, there is a must-read explanation of pointe shoe fitting, preparation, and maintenance. Also included are very interesting interviews with several dancers, who explain how they each prepare their pointe shoes and how they chose a pair.
This is a very good book to read, no matter your dance experience; it shows just how individual and important pointe shoes are.

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This was one of the first books I ever owned and I've always loved it. Angelina Ballerina tells the story of a young mouse, Angelina, who wants to dance more than anything else in the world. The illustrations are beautiful. This would be a great gift for any little girl (or grown dancer!).

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