5 New Biographies and Memoirs for the Dancer in Your Life
There’s no fighting it—winter is coming. And whether you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift for your favorite dancer or for a good excuse to curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate, we have the book for you. Five new ballet biographies and autobiographies are now available for either purchase or pre-order, covering the lives of luminaries ranging from Balanchine muse Tanaquil Le Clercq to groundbreaking modernist choreographer Bronislava Nijinska. Read on for a sneak peek into each title, and prepare to fall down the rabbit hole of ballet history.
Dancing Past the Light: The Life of Tanaquil Le Clercq, by Orel Protopopescu
In 1948, at the age of 19, Tanaquil Le Clercq became a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, making waves as the ideal “Balanchine ballerina.” In 1952, she married George Balanchine, becoming his fourth and final wife. And in 1956, at the age of 27, she contracted polio while on tour with NYCB in Europe and became wheelchair-bound, never to dance again.
In this new comprehensiv
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Dancers’ biographies that you’ll love
I love reading anytime I have some spare time. There’s nothing better than having a book between the hands and a warm blanket on top. Actually, there is something better: having a good ballet book! If you enjoy reading too, here’s a collection of dancers’ biographies that you’ll love.
Natalia Makarova – A dance autobiography (by Natalia Makarova)
Natalia Makarova has been one of my greatest influences and role models, not only for her dancing, but especially for her personality. In her autobiography, filled with beautiful pictures, Makarova begins with her childhood in Russia and takes us up to the peaks of her career as a ballerina. She extensively talks about the spirituality and intellectuality of dance, about her difficulties and personal opinions. A very inspiring story for any dancer.
“To execute a step and to dance a step. The opposition of these two concepts contains the entire history of the classical dance”Natalia Makarova
Rudolf Nureyev – The life (by Julie Kavanagh)
Does this book even need an introduc
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New York City Ballet, founded in the 1940s by George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, is considered by many to be the epitome of prestige in American ballet...
Today, the company sits among the most famous and highly regarded ballet companies in the world.
Despite its acclaim, NYCB has come under public scrutiny on more than one occasion — this scrutiny usually surrounds the company's tendency to allow artistic leadership to preside unchecked, without any clear system of checks and balances.
The unquestioned leadership of one man at a time, first choreographer George Balanchine and then his predecessor Peter Martins, created an unusual company culture that some would describe as toxic, especially for the dancers.
These days, leadership at NYCB looks quite a bit different, with two artistic directors, Jonathan Stafford and Wendy Whelan, leading the company in a more modern and collaborative fashion.
Regardless of past controversies, NYCB is undoubtedly a pillar of excellence in ballet — adored by countless ballet fans — and home to many of the world̵