Reference book on ballet (for child)

[Confuddled]

I'm sure I've seen a particular encyclopaedia of ballet recommended on here, but all my advanced searching isn't finding it. Dd is asking for books for Christmas (though I'm sure other ballet-related presents would be acceptable) so I've been looking on Amazon, but I can't tell which are any good. Has anyone got one they'd recommend? She's 9, but a good reader so it doens't need to be particularly easy to read. Thanks!

[taxi4ballet]

Ballet School by Camilla Jessell. It's one dd really loved when she was about that age, and I've known others say it's good too. 

[Jan McNulty]

There was a thread about ballet dictionaries that I eventually found!

 

 

[Guest]

Dorling Kindersley have (or had) 'My Ballet Book' by Kate Castle. Its in association with English National Ballet School and endorsed by them. My dd got it when she was about 9 or 10.

[MrsMoo2]

I’ve got one at home, send you the name of it later, fully illustrated, bit old fashioned but easy to pick things you want to know about...xx

[ArucariaBallerina]

I love 'the ballet book' by Darcey Bussell. It is co-written with Royal Ballet School and I must have read it 100 times! It is really good for looking up steps, learning about notation/choreography, how to sew ribbons etc etc! And also talks about becoming a professional and useful school addresses! I love the pictures too. 

 

For or an older person, I definitely recommend Gaynor Minden's book the Ballet Companion - contains absolutely everything a dancer will ever need. 

 

❤️

Edited November 4, 2017 by ArucariaBallerina

[alison]

I'm going to move this thread to the main part of the forum in the hope that it gets more views that way.  Good luck, Confuddled!

[Jacopo De Marinis]

Darcey Bussel has written many narrative books  about ballerinas life. Unfortunately they are addressed only for little girl. But they are very lovely, especially for a Christmas gift.

Edited November 5, 2017 by Jacopo De Marinis

[Nina G.]

A beautiful book to give children is

 

http://dancetabs.com/2014/10/book-ballet-spectacular-a-childrens-guide-to-ballet-and-an-insight-into-a-magical-world/

[Confuddled]

Thank you all, lots of ideas! There's a book called Ballet Companion by Eliza Gaynor Minden, which also has excellent reviews, so I'm dithering between that and the Darcey Bussell one... 

[Odyssey]

Ballet Spectacular is definitely one you should consider as indicated by Nina G. As well as being a beautiful gift book with some lovely photos, it arranges information in an appealing way - for example, a section called Creating a Ballet begins with an article on choreography which includes a lively piece by Kristen McNally about what is involved in being a choreographer, some short biographical information about leading choreographers and a piece on ballet notation with good images to support the explanation. The section then proceeds with articles on music for the ballet, set and costume design. Interspersed between these articles are features on the most well known ballets on the classical repertoire.