Oh say, anyone dance out there? Ballet, specifically?

[paragraphs]

As some of you know, I am writing a sequel to Red.  I've titled it ONE FALSE NOTE which absolutely fits Lee so well.  The other main character, Gevan, is a professional ballet dancer.  Am just curious if anyone on my list ever was a serious dance student, has suggestions for fics/biographies/whatever that would give me better insight to the inner world of dance, etc.   

I have a book on the way that was written by Mikhael Baryshnikov (in my user pic) , and another one about him, plus PRODIGAL SON, about Edward Villella.  Those three should help a great deal (plus what little I know of Rudolph Nureyev, as Nick and I learned via DANCER by Colum McCann.  I am going to reread that very unusual but marvelous book.

All helpful, but nothing would be better than having someone who has been involved to ask questions.  Probably not going to find anyone, I imagine...but hey, worth a shot, right?  Other books would be good too.

I am having so much fun with this fic. (see previous post--that applies here)  Am planning to go to the Ballet in March...dragging daughter with me. 

N is still up.  I am ready to go to bed, and he claims he is Not Tired!  Right.  Fine, I will go to bed, he can stay up.  Let's see, it is 5 o'clock in Germany...

In any case, done with the handwritten edits, now must transfer all onto the 20k, then it is time for more WORD WARS!!!!!!  :)

C

Comments

[stellastars]

I'm not a dancer, but if I hadn't studied art history, my next choice would have been dance history. I don't know if you're looking for some background information on ballet and how it evolved over time but, if you are, I would recommend reading Ballet and Modern Dance by Susan Au. It's a short text (with lots of pictures!) and it's probably been one of the most useful books (from a research perspective) I've ever purchased. Though it's definitely focused on the history of ballet, there are mentions of all the important names in dance. It also contains a "Selected Bibliography" and that might give you some additional biographies to pursue.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Oh cool! I will keep that in mind.

I have to say, that I think my life was ruined when my parents talked me into not majoring in art history. "You will never get a job," my dad said. That is the only time I can remember where my parents demanded I do this rather than that.

I loved art history with a passion. It was HARD. I still have my favorite book from those days...Writing About Art. I learned so much from that book. Pity I didn't see that the reason I was so good at writing about art was, well, because I had a knack for WRITING??? I wanted to continue on, especially after I made a killer A, and my parents pressured me into changing. I did to political science, and I hated it. I met Kel, didn't give a damn about school anymore, and left with a million credits and no degree.

As a result, I have been extremely supportive of what my kids want to do, whatever it is. When Tiff decided that going into medicine wasn't for her, I firmly and with great passion (lol) supported her. She definitely made the right choice (journalism, emphasis on public relations). She is so happy now, snagged the ESPN internship, will be caught up after this semester taking 18 hours, and will finish in two more years as required by her scholarships. YAY!

Can you tell I am still rather grrry about this? And then some bastard stole my best art history book--the huge monster that cost a fortune. His girlfriend asked if he could borrow it, then he dropped the class and sold it. I hates him!

[stellastars]

Awww! *hugs* I'm sorry to hear you were discouraged from studying art history. There were definitely a lot of heated-discussions/out-right-arguments about my choice of major with my parents. On the one hand was my mom, who, after having spent every moment of her life either wanting to be a teacher or actually teaching, was all about the "never get a job" perspective. On the other hand, my dad had been a studio art major, so he really couldn't say anything about my choice! Plus, I have a feeling that choosing to study art history for my MA came as something of a relief -- my BA is in theater and I'm pretty sure that is most parents' worst nightmare!

Pity I didn't see that the reason I was so good at writing about art was, well, because I had a knack for WRITING???
*g* For me art history provided the opportunity to realize that I was much better with pictures than I'd ever be with words!

I'd be quite angry if someone stole any of my art books! They are ridiculously expensive.

♥