Ballet: The Essential Guide to Technique and Creative Practice

Ballet is a detailed guide to creative practice and performance. Compiled by ten leading practitioners, each chapter focuses on an aspect of ballet as a performing art. Together they outline a journey from the underpinning principles of ballet, through an appreciation of different styles and schooling, into the dance studio for practice in class and beyond. With additional insights from highly acclaimed dancers, choreographers and teachers, this practical guide offers advice on fundamental and advanced training and creative development. As well as providing information from dance science research into training well-being, this book supports the individual dancer in their artistic growth, offering strategies for exploration and discovery. Topics include: principles, styles and schooling of classical ballet; fundamental technique and advanced expression; developing versatility and creative thinking; advice on injury management, nutrition and lifestyle; choreography and music and, finally, best practice in the rehearsal studio is covered. AUTHOR: Jennifer Jackson is the Artistic Director of Images Ballet Company at London Studio Centre. A former soloist with The Royal Ballet, Senior Lecturer at the University of Surrey and choreography tutor at The Royal Ballet School, Jennifer has danced a range of principal roles in classical and new ballets, and her commissioned choreography includes works for ballet companies, vocational schools and educational projects. She is also published in academic books and professional dance journals.
136 colour and 27 b/w photographs