Don Q Fan Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 I have been reading some biographical type books about ballet just lately and I thought it may be nice to have a thread where we share thoughts on the various books out there? Some books are also hard to come by so this be a place where we can exchange info about where to find books or arrange a loan or swap etc... The first book I read was "Balanchine and The Lost Muse, Revolution and the Making of a Choreographer" by Elizabeth Kendall which I got cheap 2nd hand on Ebay (my go to place for books!) This was an interesting read starting from George Balanchine's childhood and education in St Petersburg and going up to his early 20s. It also looks at Lidochka Ivanova who was his peer but she sadly died in somewhat mysterious circumstances. This book is best read before the Gottlieb book about Balanchine as it predates his life in that second book which I have got here to read. As a consequence of reading this book I have ordered a book about Danilova but it has yet to turn up (ordered in November!) I hope it does come. I am also on the hunt for a cheap copy of "I, Maya Plisetskaya". The second book I read was "Agony and Ecstasy: My Life in Dance" by Daria Klimentova. It was a nice book to read - an easy read - and contains a fascinating chronology of all the performances Daria did and with whom. It was interesting to read what it was like working under different Directors and with different dance partners and I was quite surprised at some of what I read. Then I read Margot Fonteyn's Autobiography - this was also an interesting read although I wished it had more about Nureyev in it. I found the chapters about her married life a bit tedious as I just wanted to know about the ballet side of her life! I would love to hear about other books you may have read about dancers or ballet in general. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 There's an ongoing suggestions thread in Doing Dance that may have some interesting reading tips: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 I've just read a novel by Kathryn Craft called The Art of Falling. It's about a dancer who has had a serious accident and her road to recovery alongside the people she meets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 (edited) I enjoy reading dance biographies and autobiographies, and over the years have read quite a few. Among my favourites are Dancing on My Grave, the first of Gelsey Kirkland’s two autobiographies, Nijinsky, a biography written by his wife,Romola Nijinsky, Nureyev biographies by both Peter Watson and Diane Soloway. Different Drummer, a comprehensive biography of Kenneth Macmillan, Lynn, Lynn Seymour’s autobiography, two meaty biographies of Ashton & Fonteyn: Secret Muses, the life of Frederick Ashton by Julie Kavanagh and Margot Fonteyn by Meredith Daneman, Dancing Away, Deborah Bull’s account of the period when the Royal Opera House was closed for redevelopment Wrights and Wrongs, Sir Peter Wright’s refreshingly frank autobiography, Diaghilev by Richard Buckle and Hope in a Ballet Shoe, Michaela DePrince’s uplifting story, co-written with her Mum. Edited January 3, 2021 by Odyssey 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 4 hours ago, Jan McNulty said: There's an ongoing suggestions thread in Doing Dance that may have some interesting reading tips: Not only that, but if you click on the "books" tag I've added you'll find there are up to 14 related threads 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted January 5, 2021 Author Share Posted January 5, 2021 Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted January 5, 2021 Author Share Posted January 5, 2021 On 03/01/2021 at 22:52, Odyssey said: I enjoy reading dance biographies and autobiographies, and over the years have read quite a few. Among my favourites are Dancing on My Grave, the first of Gelsey Kirkland’s two autobiographies, Nijinsky, a biography written by his wife,Romola Nijinsky, Nureyev biographies by both Peter Watson and Diane Soloway. Different Drummer, a comprehensive biography of Kenneth Macmillan, Lynn, Lynn Seymour’s autobiography, two meaty biographies of Ashton & Fonteyn: Secret Muses, the life of Frederick Ashton by Julie Kavanagh and Margot Fonteyn by Meredith Daneman, Dancing Away, Deborah Bull’s account of the period when the Royal Opera House was closed for redevelopment Wrights and Wrongs, Sir Peter Wright’s refreshingly frank autobiography, Diaghilev by Richard Buckle and Hope in a Ballet Shoe, Michaela DePrince’s uplifting story, co-written with her Mum. Thank you for all these suggestions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 An advert for this novel set in a ballet school popped up on my FB feed: https://www.virago.co.uk/titles/megan-abbott/the-turnout/9780349012476/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Macmillan Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 On the slim chance that perusal of our daily Links thread is not your first activity each morning, I should mention that the past week has had an unusual number of ballet-related book reviews, including several of The Turnout, plus some background from the author. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Not sure how much of a book about ballet/dance this is but it's just popped up on a google search: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/08/09/shimmering-state-meredith-westgate-debut-dazzling/5506245001/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) Can't wait to get my hands - or should that be eyes - on a copy of James Whiteside's upcoming Center, Center .... Sounds potent ... Plus he is always so enticingly witty .... and honest ... be it in his dance ... and everywhere else it seems ... Love the line 'I can make the rules because I’ve already broken them. Just one of those things I wish I'd said myself Just ordered my copy .... Now I'M smiling .... Edited August 20, 2021 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 Fjord Review has just published a feature about three upcoming ballet-based novels. Possible Christmas ideas... https://fjordreview.com/new-narrative-ballet-fiction/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyTaylor Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 I've just read Susan Scarlett's Pirouette. This is Noel Streatfield writing under another name. All Susan Scarlett's books have just been republished, so available in paperback or on Kindle. I'm enjoying them all. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabine0308 Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 I don't remember if I recommended it in another thread but here again: "A Body of work" by David Hallberg. Very personal insights about his way to the top, enduring hostilities in POB, living a satisfying life with work at the Bolshoi as first American, work at ABT, struggling with injuries, getting back onstage when nobody believed anymore that he could. I LOVE this book. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophoife Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 10 hours ago, Jan McNulty said: Fjord Review has just published a feature about three upcoming ballet-based novels. Possible Christmas ideas... https://fjordreview.com/new-narrative-ballet-fiction/ As I don't subscribe to Fjord Review I can only read the first paragraph. Jan is there a chance you could post the names of the novels? Their authors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 17 minutes ago, Sophoife said: As I don't subscribe to Fjord Review I can only read the first paragraph. Jan is there a chance you could post the names of the novels? Their authors? Meg Howrey - They're going to love you (due to be published in November) Nicole Cuffy - Dances (due to be published in May 2023) Martha Anne Toll - Three Muses (due to be published in 2 weeks) You don't have to subscribe to Fjord Review - if they ask you to log in you only have to put your name and email in to get to the full article. The occasional feature has been behind a paywall but there is still plenty of reading. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Essex Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 On 07/09/2022 at 17:29, Sabine0308 said: I don't remember if I recommended it in another thread but here again: "A Body of work" by David Hallberg. Very personal insights about his way to the top, enduring hostilities in POB, living a satisfying life with work at the Bolshoi as first American, work at ABT, struggling with injuries, getting back onstage when nobody believed anymore that he could. I LOVE this book. Yes I love it too it’s a must read and very eloquently written. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 (edited) Grahm Watts is interviewing Leanne Benjamin's about her recent autobiography, Built for Ballet, "Built for Ballet" - with Leanne Benjamin (IN PERSON TICKET) Tickets, Wed 14 Sep 2022 at 18:30 | Eventbrite Tickets are Free, but please consider making a donation to the library. Edited September 8, 2022 by oncnp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Posted November 13, 2022 Share Posted November 13, 2022 On 07/09/2022 at 19:00, Jan McNulty said: Meg Howrey - They're going to love you (due to be published in November) The Times just reviewed this, and, with some reservations, liked it:- a glossy, fast-paced, moreish family drama set in the rarefied world of New York ballet. Think family quarrels, sex and betrayal, against the backdrop of the Aids crisis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivy Lin Posted November 24, 2022 Share Posted November 24, 2022 I wrote up a review of Jennifer Homans' new bio Mr. B: https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2022/11/tomorrow-nycb-starts-its-annual.html 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheilaC Posted November 24, 2022 Share Posted November 24, 2022 41 minutes ago, Ivy Lin said: I wrote up a review of Jennifer Homans' new bio Mr. B: https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2022/11/tomorrow-nycb-starts-its-annual.html So far I’ve only read about 30 pages but was surprised to notice a bad error, when Homans claims that the Royal Ballet had previously been called Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet - which obviously was the touring company, now BRB. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophoife Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 I'm not surprised @SheilaC. I bought and read Apollo's Angels when it came out and it was clear that Homans didn't know or care much about ballet outside NYCB and Balanchine's work. Ballet died when he did, basically. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 7 hours ago, Sophoife said: I'm not surprised @SheilaC. I bought and read Apollo's Angels when it came out and it was clear that Homans didn't know or care much about ballet outside NYCB and Balanchine's work. Ballet died when he did, basically. Agreed, but I still found it a very interesting read and I'm looking forward to reading the Balanchine biography. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 This week in Links I've published a couple of book items. Below for perusal: Wendy Perron's list of notable dance books in 2022 Misty Copeland's latest book reviewed Ashley Killar's biography of John Cranko reviewed 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silke H Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 I had first read Winter Season by Toni Bentley (a former NYCB dancer) as a teenager, shortly after it was first published, and have re-read it a couple of times since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borzoi Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 An old book but an excellent read: Dance to the Piper by Agnes DeMille. Think you can still find it on Amazon. Forgive me if it has already been mentioned. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Macmillan Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 I have to keep telling myself the thread isn't about some local company. 😊 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borzoi Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 Have not seen "White Swan Black Swan" by Adrienne Sharp mentioned yet. Still available on Amazon. Very interesting read. Fiction but well researched. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serenade Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 23 hours ago, Borzoi said: Have not seen "White Swan Black Swan" by Adrienne Sharp mentioned yet. Still available on Amazon. Very interesting read. Fiction but well researched. Thanks for the recommendation- I’ve just ordered myself a copy😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkgal Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 I love re-reading “Lynn”. Although when it came out a fellow amphi regular said it was : I was the best dramatic dancer in the world but no one knew. except, as she said, we did! Whatever... it’s fascinating and great insight into her life and art. She’s so honest and gosh has she lived! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borzoi Posted December 26, 2022 Share Posted December 26, 2022 On 16/12/2022 at 12:13, Suffolkgal said: I love re-reading “Lynn”. Although when it came out a fellow amphi regular said it was : I was the best dramatic dancer in the world but no one knew. except, as she said, we did! Whatever... it’s fascinating and great insight into her life and art. She’s so honest and gosh has she lived! Have you seen the YouTube clip of her rehearsing Mayerling with KM? I would post the link but not sure if it would be allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 In pondering whether to buy Diaghilev’s Empire: How the Ballet Russes Enthralled the World by Rupert Christiansen, I came across this conversation between Mr Christiansen and Lynn Garafola author of La Nijinska . It’s a lovely listen and I now find myself ordering two books instead of one! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 New Ed Watson book https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn1tfzjtL8L/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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