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First published in 2002. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

\"From selecting a teacher in the early stages, to supporting a child through his or her choice to dance professionally, [this book] leads parents of prospective dancers through a full range of considerations, encouraging careful thinking and informed decision-making when embarking on dance training\"-- Provided by publisher.

Many children dream of being a ballerina. Chin raised with purpose, arms high above head, they twirl clumsily around the living room and leap tirelessly in the air. Sooner or later they're bound to say, \"I want to dance.\" Now what do you do? How do you know if the time is right? Where's the best place to start? In Getting Started in Ballet, Anna Paskevska draws from her training at the Paris Opera Ballet School and and the Royal Ballet School in London and her career as a professional dancer and teacher to offer a step-by-step introduction to dance education for parents with children starting ballet. Paskevska begins with a historical overview of dance and discusses the fundamental virtues and many life-long skills it imparts. Dance teaches children how to cooperate and support each other's efforts; encourages them to work in harmony with others; helps establish a child's spatial relationships; and promotes discipline and responsibility. Paskevska outlines the proper sequence for training in ballet based on a child's physical and mental development. She clearly demonstrates how ballet's early training, focusing on repetition of simple motion such as exercises at the barre and basic jumps, establish pathways for all later movements not only in ballet, but in modern dance, jazz, and tap as well. Written in a clear and accessible style and full of anecdotes from Paskevska's long professional dance-related career, Getting Started in Ballet offers helpful information on types of dance schools and how to select the right school for your child. Included is valuable information on choosing a dance instructor, the role both parents and teachers should play in a child's learning experience, and the qualities the ideal teacher should possess. Also discussed are more practical matters such as the appropriate clothing to wear while practicing, the importance of shoes that fit properly, how to secure pointe shoes, tips for avoiding injury, and how to balance training and performing experience during the formative years. A special chapter covers proper diet, eating disorders, and ways to recognize symptoms of imbalance. Finally, Paskevska touches upon the professional world of dance, attending college as a dance major, and advice on choosing careers that benefit from a background in dance. With forewords by Violette Verdy, a preeminent ballerina affiliated with the New York City Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet, and Sybil Shearer, a pioneer of American modern dance, as well as an extensive appendix of performing arts schools and dance programs throughout the United States, Getting Started in Ballet gives parents the advice they need to make their child's dance experiences both enjoyable and constructive.

one photo of Jessica Hoang Tang by John Costello

\"For ballet students, graduation day can mark the beginning--or the end--of their dreams.\" (MIAMI HERALD) Meet several teens who are entering the world of professional dance. Learn how their lives were influenced by participating in ballet classes.

Meet a young ballet dancer from Philadelphia who qualified for the prestigious summer programs of the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and the California program of the American Ballet Theatre. Learn about her family, her determination to succeed and her exceptional dance talent.

Fifty-two children from Miami, Florida's poorest neighborhoods were given a chance to audition for a free ballet class taught by an instructor from the Miami City Ballet School and perhaps win a full scholarship to continue their dance studies. Learn more about the program and the children who hope to gain admission.

\"Studying at The National Ballet School of Canada isn't a simple task.\" (CLUBHOUSE) Meet a 10-year-old ballet student who moved away from home after she auditioned and was accepted by this school. Her daily routine is outlined.

Can the art of ballet lie in the science of physics? Physics professor and ballet instructor Ken Laws explains the principles of ballet by applying the laws of physics.