Recommended: 4 Editor's Picks
July 1, 2016

Shapes of American Ballet: Teachers and Training Before Balanchine

By Jessica Zeller

Oxford University Press; 216 pages; $35

Calling all balletomanes! Texas Christian University dance professor Jessica Zeller sheds light on an often neglected piece of American dance history: the presence of American ballet from 1909 to 1934, prior to George Balanchine’s arrival. Learn about trailblazers like Russian dancer Mikhail Mordkin, whose NYC-based company Mordkin Ballet laid the groundwork for American Ballet Theatre.

Little Miss Dancey Pants

By Kourtni Mason; illustrated by

Sharad Kumar

AuthorHouse; 25 pages; $13.99

Former professional dancer Kourtni Mason encourages kids ages 3–6 to follow their dreams in Little Miss Dancey Pants, the story of Addison, an African-American girl who loves to dance and finds a role model right under her nose.

Merce Cunningham: Beyond the Perfect Stage

By Stephanie Berger

Damiani; 96 pages; $50

Photographer Stephanie Berger captures the architectural beauty of the late Merce Cunningham’s choreography during a series of site-specific “Events” from 2008 to 2011. Featured dancers include: Holley Farmer, Silas Riener, Rashaun Mitchell, Robert Swinston and Melissa Toogood.

Dance Production: Design and Technology

By Jeromy Hopgood

Focal Press; 294 pages; $44.95

Eastern Michigan University professor Jeromy Hopgood simplifies the process of staging a dance production with this new manual. Learn how to tackle pre-production planning, lighting, sound, sets, costumes, technology and stage management from the perspective of what works best for dance.

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