How To Books

I read. A lot. I like reading. You can learn things from reading.

Or at least you should.

I have read sooooo many ballet books that tell you what to do, but not how to do it.

I'm currently reading a book by a very famous teacher. Out of print, an excellent copy is worth around $400. I'm sure this person was a great teacher, as evidenced by the great dancers he produced. However, if you just tried to learn how to do something from the book, you'd be hard pressed to do so. 

There's no substitute for taking class. A great teacher can see what each individual student needs, and you have to be in class for the teacher to be able to see you. You should also be able to learn from other sources. Textbooks are not just for academic subjects. Some people may not be good writers, you say? Yes, you're right, but if you can tell a student what to do in class, then just write that down!

My Godmother, Alexandra Danilova (name drop!), wrote an autobiography. She wasn't a writer, but she was a delightful conversationalist, and her book, "Choura", her nickname, reads like you're sitting in her apartment, having tea with her. I try to write these blogs like that. We're in Starbucks, talking, or you're in my class, and I'm giving you suggestions.

Suki Schorer, former principal dancer with New York City Ballet, wrote the definitive book on Balanchine technique, "Suki Schorer on Balanchine Tecnique". (Simple). You can really learn from that book, since it actually tells you how to do things. Now, there are some things I agree with in Neo-Classical technique, and some I don't, but if you want a book that reaches you, Suki's is one.

"The Ballet Companion" by Eliza Minden, is quite possibly the best book on ballet ever. Technique, history, costumes, it has everything. The one thing it does not have, is one word about Gaynor-Minden toe shoes, the ones Eliza designed. You'd think her book would be a commercial for her shoes, but no. She wrote the book about ballet, not as an advertisement.

There are as many, if not more, how to videos out there, that commit the same faux pas as the books, telling you what to do without telling you how to do it. That's like giving class as opposed to teaching class.

So, if you're reading a book that says something like, "In order to do a refectory placed pirouette, you must be perfectly placed", without telling you how to place yourself, toss it in the garbage, and go to class. At least there you can ask questions.

See you in class.