[Dummies 01] • Ballet For Dummies by Speck, Scott -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Contents Introduction

About This Book Conventions Used in This Book Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organized Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here

Part I : Ballet Dancing from the Top Chapter 1: Curtain Up! Welcome to the Ballet

Ballet for Life In the Beginning . . . Watching Great Choreography for Inspiration Gathering Your Ballet Materials Staying Healthy and Avoiding Injury Getting Started: It’s Easier Than You Think Why Being a Ballet Novice Helps You Enjoy Ballet

Chapter 2: Stocking the Tools of the Trade

Finding the Right Practice Space Practicing on a Ballet-Friendly Floor (or the Next-Best Thing) The Barre Essentials Dressed to Dance Choosing Ballet Slippers Keeping Your Hair in Its Place More Ballet Paraphernalia

Chapter 3: Getting Toasty: Warming Up Your Body

Getting Grounded: Floor Stretches Strengthening the Stabilizers More Strengthening: Floor Barre

Chapter 4: Leaping into Ballet Basics

Finding the Correct Ballet Stance Walking Like a Duck: Proper Leg Alignment Practicing the Positions of the Feet and Arms The Graceful Ballet Hand

Chapter 5: Music, Maestro!

Finding Musical Options for Each Exercise Counting It Out

Part II : Belly Up to the Barre Chapter 6: Basic Barre-Tending

Standing at the Barre: Starting Position Small Knee Bends: Demi-Pliés Adding Bends — The Port de Bras Rises to the Balls of the Feet (Relevés) Big Knee Bends (Grands Pliés) Extending the Legs (Battements Tendus) Drawing Circles on the Floor (Rond de Jambe à Terre) Practicing Your One-Legged Balance (Retiré and Relevé)

Chapter 7: Stepping It Up at the Barre

Melting into a One-Leg Knee Bend (Fondu) The Pas de Cheval (Horse Step) Striking the Floor with Your Foot (Battement Tendu Frappé)

Chapter 8: Getting a Leg Up

Part III : Center Floor, Anyone? Chapter 9: Getting to Center Floor

Mapping Out the Room Positioning Your Body in Battement Tendu Lifting Your Leg Slowly (Développé — Adagio) Lifting Your Leg Behind (Arabesque) Lifting Your Leg Behind with a Bent Knee (Attitude) An Adagio Combination

Chapter 10: Ballet’s Tasmanian Devil: The Pirouette

It’s All in the Spot The Pre-Pirouette: Turning on Two Legs Turning on One Leg Traveling Turns Whipping It Up: The Famous Fouetté

Chapter 11: Linking It Together: The Steps Between the Steps

Galloping in the Air (Chassé) Gliding between Steps (Glissade) Doing the Three-Step Getting from One Place to Another Faking It Gracefully (Coupé)

Chapter 12: Ground Control to Ballet Dancer

Small Jumps on Two Legs (Petit Allegro) Small Jumps on One Leg (More Petit Allegro) Brushing Your Feet into a Jump Traveling Jumps

Chapter 13: Getting More Air Time

Doing the Impossible: Stationary Jumps Jumping Across the Floor (Grand Allegro) The Reverent Stretch and Bow (Reverance)

Part IV : Living the Ballet Life Chapter 14: Partners Aren’t Just for Square Dancing

Partnering 101: Finding Her Balance Promenading What Did You Have for Dinner Last Night? Lifting Safely Don’t Try This at Home! Lifts to Look for in Performance

Chapter 15: Exploring Choreography

Classical Ballet Constants Applying the Steps to the Great Choreography Dancing with a Modern Flair Getting Inspired by Others

Chapter 16: What the Heck Are They Saying? The Art of Ballet Mime

Telling a Story with Gestures Understanding the Basic Principles of Ballet Mime Mastering the Most Common Gestures Famous Examples of Ballet Mime

Chapter 17: Watching Ballet in Action

Getting Ready Arriving Early Can I Wear a Codpiece to Romeo and Juliet? A Pre-Ballet Food-Lover’s Manual Knowing Where to Sit — and Getting the Best Ticket Deals Who to Bring, Who to Leave at Home with the Hamsters Ballets to Attend — or Avoid — on a Date Understanding What You Are Watching Life in the Wings Basking in the Afterglow

Part V : The Part of Tens Chapter 18: The Ten Most Commonly Used Ballet Steps

Small Knee Bend (Demi-Plié) in Fifth Position Leg Stretch (Battement Tendu and Dégagé) Développé Leg Lifted Back (Arabesque) in First Position Leg Lifted Back and Bent (Attitude) Outward Turn (Pirouette en Dehors) from Fourth Position Forward Jump with Split (Grand Jeté) The Gliding Step (Glissade) The Famous Fouetté — Count ‘Em, 32! Double Turn in the Air (Double Tour en l’Air)

Chapter 19: Ten Best-Loved Classical Ballets

La Sylphide Giselle Don Quixote Coppélia La Bayadère Swan Lake Sleeping Beauty The Nutcracker Romeo and Juliet Cinderella

Chapter 20: Ten Great “Contemporary” Ballets

The Rite of Spring Serenade Pillar of Fire Rodeo Fancy Free La Fille Mal Gardée Song of the Earth Forgotten Land In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated The Hard Nut Othello

Chapter 21: The Ten Best Ballet Terms for Cocktail Parties Chapter 22: Ten Fascinating Facts about Professional Ballet Dancers

The Discipline Needed to Be a Dancer A Dancer’s Schedule: A Day in the Life What Dancers Actually Eat The Hierarchy of a Ballet Company The Mysterious Pointe Shoe Why Macho Guys Dance Women, Pregnancy, and Performance Why Some Ballet Dancers Need Hip Replacements Party versus Performance Early Retirement Why It’s All Worth It

Glossary of Ballet Terms