The Ballet Book: The Young Performer’s Guide to Classical Dance 2nd Ed.

The second edition of The Ballet Book: The Young Performer's Guide to Classical Dance from Canada’s National Ballet School is both a comprehensive guide and a beautiful resource. This version features colour photographs and updated text and includes depictions of both male and female dancers aged pre-teen to young adult.

The five chapters are titled “To Begin”, “Ballet Class”, “Branching Out”, “The Healthy Dancer” and “Performing.” The first chapter gives advice on finding a ballet class and teacher, musical accompaniment and what to wear. The brief paragraph on “The Use of Touch”, and appropriate touch, is an important one and could serve to empower young dancers in uncomfortable or inappropriate situations.

The second and longest chapter in the book, “Ballet Class”, features descriptions of ballet positions which adhere to Canada’s National Ballet School Terminology as well as accompanying photographs for each pose. This chapter alone is invaluable for newcomers to ballet and young students learning the positions.

“Branching Out”, Chapter 3, provides brief descriptions of alternate forms, such as creative and character dance, and a few short paragraphs on partnering, professional training, and residence.

Exercises, proper posture, and health care professionals are covered in Chapter 4, “The Healthy Dancer.”

The fifth and final chapter, “Performing”, includes photography from famous performances, such as The Nutcracker, Nijinsky, Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet, alongside a paragraph about the story behind each ballet.

The author, Deborah Bowes, a knowledgeable ballet teacher and graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School, has crafted a beautiful and accessible guide that will speak to today’s youth. With over 100 colour photographs, this resource is engaging and inviting in a way that is not always associated with the classical depiction of ballet. The glossary of terms in the back of the book is a valuable inclusion as is the lovely forward by Canadian icon Karen Kain. While an effort was made to include young dancers from different cultures, more photos of people of colour would be a welcome addition to the next edition.

The Ballet Book is required reading for young dancers looking to begin training and for ballet teachers who work with children and youth, but it will also be of interest to those who care for young dancers and those who simply love ballet.