The Ballet Companion

Starred review from October 3, 2005
Gaynor Minden, a former dancer who now heads a dancewear company, has been immersed in the world of ballet for much of her life, and in this book shares dancer-to-dancer advice, much of which is aimed at beginning-to-intermediate level dancers, or adults who are either starting or returning to a childhood passion; dancers who have been committed to the art for a couple of years will already know on the finer points of finding a school, how to behave in class and the basic positions and movements, though the crisp photographs of professionals demonstrating steps are quite useful. The chapter on pointework, Gaynor Minden's specialty, is more widely valuable, and the pages devoted to dancer health contain vital information on eating disorders, injuries and supplemental physical training that teachers and students of all levels would do well to review. Brief sections called "The Curious Dancer" give introductions to ballet-related skills and trivia (how to apply stage makeup; ballet on Broadway), as well as intermittent features on great ballet companies and famous dancers of both early and modern times. Her explanation of the differences between the six major ballet styles, along with the superb glossaries of terms and dance history timeline, make this book a valuable resource for dance studios and a great primer for dancers in the early stages of training.

October 1, 2005
Minden, president of a leading dancewear company and a dancer herself, has written a handy guidebook for young dancers that covers topics ranging from selecting a school to securing one's hair into a bun to staying healthy and free of injury. Often illustrated with a drawing or a photograph, each topic is addressed in a concise narrative that reads like a to-do list. More than 100 photographs of dancers Maria Riccetto and Benjamin Millepied demonstrating basic positions and orientations supplement the text. Understanding that all young dancers will be enriched by the history of ballet and its great dancers, Minden intersperses the practical information with historical snapshots in a feature called "Tour de Force." Readers are more likely to consult this book as a quick reference than read it from cover to cover; indeed, its design and arrangement suit that use particularly well in the last chapter, "Ballet Literacy," which lists "must-see" ballets, a glossary, and a historical time line. Recommended for public libraries.Joan Stahl, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.