The Classic Ballet : Basic Technique and Terminology

A warm welcome back to this beloved classic! For decades the standard text for ballet technique, this book-first published in 1952-presents a beginner's gudie to basic movements, steps, and terminology.

Written by the staff of the School of American Ballet, it builds on the Russian tradition of Anna Pavlova and reflects the dance style of George Balanchine.

The 800 masterful drawings by Carlus Dyer demonstrate proper body position, balance point, movement, and attitude of each position and step in the basic classical repertoire.

As Balanchine points out in his preface, the illustrations are more accurate than photographs could possible be because they have been corrected and recorrected until they approximate the ideal.

Lincoln Kirstein (with George Balanchine) founded the School of American Ballet 1934.

He became its first director and remained the driving force behind both the school and the American Ballet Theatre for thrity years.

Muriel Stuart, the last student of Anna Pavlova, was ballet mistress at the school for many years.