Summer is a great time to take some extra moments to sit down and read, as well as study and prepare for the new semester. There are a number of books that I can recommend, not only as good reading material but also as a way to renew your thoughts, learn some new things and get some different ideas to help you with your classes during the year. If you are anything like I am, you probably find it difficult during the semester to have time to really sit down and absorb all the wisdom and knowledge available in books.
Here is a list of books connected to dance that I have read and enjoyed and learned from. I hope that you are able to spend time with some of them this month.
1) The Black Tradition in American Dance by Richard A Long. This is a very interesting book with some wonderful photos of dancers who have truly made their mark in American Dance.
2) The Magic of Dance by Margot Fonteyn. This autobiographical book is full of interesting anecdotes and shows a very personal side of one of the world’s greatest prima ballerinas.
3) Anthology of American Jazz Dance by Giordano. A thorough and descriptive book by the late legendary Gus Giordano—a must for any Jazz dance enthusiast.
4) Men in Dance by Mary Clark and Clement Crisp. This difficult to come by book focuses on the triumphs of men in the world of dance.
5) The Ballet Companion: A Dancer’s Guide To The Technique, Traditions And Joys Of Ballet by Eliza Gaynor Minden. The title tells it all. A very informative book for any dancer or dance teacher.
6) Ailey Ascending: A Portrait In Motion by Andrew Eccles. Some fabulous photos in both black and white and color showing the artistry of Alvin Ailey and the company he formed.
7) The Dancer’s Foot Book: A Complete Guide To Foot Care by Janice Barringer and Sarah Schlesinger. A very informative reference book. Helpful for your dancers.
8) Conditioning For Dance by Eric Franklin. A great book to help our understanding of how the body functions and what can be done to strengthen and stretch the muscles and tendons for optimum results.
These are just a handful of dance books that I feel are helpful to any dance teacher. Of course they are many more. I love finding some of the antique books on dance and, although techniques and styles change constantly, it is always helpful to know what has gone before us and how the dancers of different ages produced the work that they did. How did the choreographers come up with their great ideas? What made a Margot Fonteyn or an Alvin Ailey tick? What did the famous teachers who went before us use to not only motivate them, but also their students?
These are the sorts of thought-provoking questions that come to mind the more you delve into the experiences, both good and bad that made it all work for them. Brushing up on new techniques to help prevent injuries and strengthen young bodies in healthy ways is important and helpful to us as teachers. There is a little bit of everything in this book selection. I hope you find them interesting and useful. Have fun reading this summer.
