An illustrated reference for dancers at all levels shares practical advice about how to train safely, observe appropriate etiquette, and learn the techniques of accomplished dancers, in a volume that is complemented by historical information and photographs that demonstrate the executions of positions and steps. 75,000 first printing. A new classic for dancers of all levels, THE BALLET COMPANION is the first complete, full-colour ballet reference book, covering the technique, artistry, training, performance and enjoyment of ballet - and a beautiful gift for anyone who loves the art of dance. Acknowledgments ix Introduction xii Part One: To Be a Dancer Getting Started 3(28) Selecting a Ballet School 3(3) Choosing Your Level of Commitment 6(2) Ballet Moms and Dads: Sine Qua Non 8(1) What to Expect of Class 9(2) What Class Expects of You 11(4) Getting the Most Out of Class 15(2) When to Begin Pointework 17(4) All That Jazz, Modern, and More 21(6) Ballet at Any Age 27(4) Getting Serious 31(32) Backstage and Onstage 31(11) Summer Intensives 42(5) Auditions 47(5) Advanced Classes: Partnering and Variations 52(4) Men's Training 56(3) Competitions 59 The Curious Dancer: Studio Attire 11(7) Ribbons and Elastics 18(10) The Ballet Bun 28(9) Stage Makeup 37(9) Ballet's Courtly Origins 46 Tour de Force: Catherine de Medici and Le Ballet Comique de la Reine 14(8) Rebels, Rivals, and the ``Shakespeare of Ballet'' 22(18) Louis XIV and the French Tradition 40(10) Romanticism 50(8) Extraordinary Partnership: Fonteyn and Nureyev 58(5) Part Two: Ballet Basics Major Schools of Ballet 63(14) The French School 64(1) Bournonville (Denmark) 65(3) Cecchetti (Italy) 68(1) Royal Academy of Dance (England) 68(2) Vaganova (Soviet Russia) 70(1) Balanchine 71(6) Fundamentals of Technique 77(8) Alignment 78(1) Lift 79(1) Turnout 80(5) Positions and Orientations 85(22) Positions of the Feet 86(2) Positions of the Arms 88(6) Sur le Cou-de-Pied 94(3) Passe or Retire 97(1) Arabesques 98(2) Attitude 100(2) Orientations of the Body 102 The Curious Dancer: Dance Notation 66(3) Through the Ranks 69(3) Tour de Force: Tutu Much: Ballet Costumes 72(10) Bournonville and the Danish Tradition 82(10) Ballet Blanc: The Corps de Ballet's Triumph 92(3) Pas de Quatre (not Pas de Cinq) 95(1) Livry's Shroud 96(11) Part Three: Ballet Class Before Class 107(14) Warm Up 108(1) Stretch 109(12) At the Barre 121(32) Plie 128(2) Releve 130(2) Cambre 132(2) Battement Tendu 134(3) Rond de Jambe par Terre 137(1) Fondu 138(2) Battement Frappe 140(2) Developpe 142(2) Grand Rond de Jambe 144(1) Petit Battement sur le Cou-de-Pied 145(1) Rond de Jambe en I'Air 146(2) Barre Stretches 148(1) Grand Battement 149(4) Center Floor 153(30) Adagio/Adage 154(4) Allegro: Petit and Grand 158(16) Turns 174(7) Reverence 181(2) Musicality 183(4) All About Pointe 187(22) The Rise of the Ballerina 187(1) How a Pointe Shoe Works 188(4) How to Select and Fit Pointe Shoes 192(6) Pointe Training and Technique 198 The Curious Dancer: Pirouette Tips from the Pros 178(13) Anatomy of a Pointe Shoe 191(3) Foot Types 194 Tour de Force: Pioneers of Pointe: Taglioni and Legnani 118(8) Petipa and the Tsars' Ballet 126(10) Pavlova 136(14) Modern Dance 150(32) Nijinsky 182(22) ``Astonish Me.'' Diaghilev, Fokine, and the Ballets Russes 204(5) Part Four: The Healthy Dancer Respect Your Body; Dance Forever 209(17) Eating Well to Dance Well 209(5) Body Esteem: Dealing with the Mirror 214(1) Eating Disorders 215(6) Puberty and Dancing 221(5) Anatomy Illustrated 226(5) Injury Prevention 231(22) Avoiding Burnout 231(1) Ballet Injury ``Hot Spots'' 232(12) Muscles---Pulls and Tears 244(1) Anatomical Terms 244(1) Daily Care For Dancing Feet 245(2) If You Are Injured 247(6) Cross Training 253(16) Pilates 253(2) Yoga 255(5) Resistance Training 260(1) Floor-Barre 261(1) Gyrotonic 262(1) Swimming 263 The Curious Dancer: Ballet's Folk Dance Tradition 223(28) Ballet on Broadway 251(1) Mime 252 Tour de Force: A Tale of Two Cities: The Kirov and the Bolshoi 224(4) Balanchine, Kirstein, and New York City Ballet 228(14) American Ballet Theatre 242(16) Ashton, de Valois, and the Royal Ballet 258(6) The Dance Boom of the '60s and '70s 264(5) Part Five: Ballet Literacy Must-See Ballet 269(23) The Curious Dancer: Must-See Ballet at a Glance 290(2) Historical Time Line 292(7) Glossaries 299(17) Ballet Terms 299(11) Music Terms 310(2) Theater Terms 312(1) Social Dances 313(1) Dancer Slang 314(2) Further Reading 316(2) Resources 318(3) Videos 318(1) Organizations 319(1) Magazines and Publications 319(2) Index 321