Reference

Conditioning for Dance

Conditioning for Dance improves your technique and performance in all dance forms by strengthening the body's core while improving your coordination, balance, alignment, and flexibility. The result is more lift without tension, deeper pliés, higher jumps with less effort, tighter turns, and improved extension and turnout.

The innovative, proven techniques in this book will help you execute key movements better as you

·strengthen the muscles you use in dance by performing exercises with elastic resistance bands;
·start and move in proper alignment using imagery;
·improve your balance and release tension through playful exercises with small balls;
·develop leg and torso power that translates to higher jumps and tighter turns; and
·optimize your flexibility through touch, movement awareness, and imagery.

Conditioning for Dance features 102 imagery illustrations paired with dance-specific exercises to help you maximize body-mind conditioning. The book culminates with a 20-minute, full-body barre workout routine designed to help you warm up, condition, and refine your dance technique.

By working the muscles through movements and ranges of motion that approximate the demands of your chosen dance form, you directly enrich your performance capabilities. And as you strengthen the body's core, stretch to gain just the right amount of flexibility, and incorporate the power of the mind, you unleash your full artistic and physical potential.

The Ballet Companion: A Dancer's Guide to the Technique, Traditions, and Joys of Ballet

The Ballet Companion is a fresh, comprehensive, and thoroughly up-to-date reference book for the dancer. With 150 stunning photographs of ballet stars Maria Riccetto and Benjamin Millepied demonstrating perfect execution of positions and steps, this elegant volume brims with everything today's dance student needs, including:

• Practical advice for getting started, such as selecting a school, making the most of class, and studio etiquette

• Explanations of ballet fundamentals and major training systems

• An illustrated guide through ballet class -- warm-up, barre, and center floor

• Guidelines for safe, healthy dancing through a sensible diet, injury prevention, and cross-training with yoga and Pilates

• Descriptions of must-see ballets and glossaries of dance, music, and theater terms

Along the way you'll find technique secrets from stars of American Ballet Theatre, lavishly illustrated sidebars on ballet history, and tips on everything from styling a ballet bun to stage makeup to performing the perfect pirouette.

Whether a budding ballerina, serious student, or adult returning to ballet, dancers will find a lively mix of ballet's time-honored traditions and essential new information.

Inside Ballet Technique: Separating Anatomical Fact from Fiction in the Ballet Class

Dancing: The Pleasure, Power, and Art of Movement

The Art of Making Dances

The Thinking Body

Aerial Dance

First book ever on aerial dance

Aerial Dance is the first book to showcase this newest dance genre. The book traces the historical roots of this latest art form, which is rapidly gaining in popularity. It also defines its place in the lineage of modern dance and addresses aesthetics, philosophical approaches to teaching, and safety issues.

Aerial Dance will be of great interest to all those associated with or attracted to this emerging art form. Whether a novice or professional, a practitioner or educator, they will learn from those who helped shape aerial dance into what it is today. Through this book and DVD package, readers will

• gain insight from essays written by leading choreographers in the field;
• gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for aerial dance choreography through "Look Up!" features that provide cross-references to video performance clips on the DVD; and
• view high-quality photographs that illustrate the origins of aerial dance.

Part I details the evolution of aerial dance and its place in a postmodern world. It delves into the aesthetics of aerial dance and the differences between this genre and circus-based aerial arts.
Part II presents a variety of essays from many of the top artists in the field who provide insight into their own approaches to aerial dance. The book also presents a variety of teaching applications, including ideas for working with special populations and related art forms.
Part III is all about safety, including injury prevention, rigging, other safety-related issues. This part helps readers understand anatomical and physiological issues regarding safety.

Note that Aerial Dance is not meant as an instruction book in choreographing or executing aerial dance moves. No book can ensure safe rigging or keep a dancer from falling. Those who are interested in learning and practicing aerial dance must first find a skilled and experienced teacher. The appendix includes contact information on aerial dancers, teachers, festivals, and aerial dance equipment.

Readers will find great insight and direction from seasoned experts in this innovative dance form. Aerial Dance captures the passion of the genre and helps readers appreciate the creative possibilities it offers.

Basic Ballet: The Steps Defined (Penguin Handbooks)

Bellydance

For women who are eager to exercise their mind, body, and spirit, bellydancing is a no-impact exercise that burns fat, increases flexibility, and complements the natural movements of the body. Providing a structured approach to learning the basics, with step-by-step instructions and helpful photographs, Bellydance is the perfect reference for getting fit and having fun.

Tapworks: A Tap Dictionary and Reference Manual

As the official reference manual of the Dance Masters of America, this tap dance resource contains more than 1,500 up-to-date entries about every facet of this uniquely American art form. It provides a history of tap dance as well as the dancers who defined it. This manual also includes a comprehensive dictionary of tap and dance terminology with a special section devoted to teachers.