(Limelight). Anyone who has ever seen a live performance of ballet knows the thrill of seeing larger-than-life figures on stage dancing in ways that seem superhuman. What are these dancers like beyond the footlights? How have they acquired such artistry and technique? What are the joys and difficulties in sustaining their careers? What dreams would they like to fulfill as performers? Round About the Ballet profiles the stars of the top New York City ballet companies: American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet. Selected by Roy Round; one of the worlds leading dance photographers; the dancers profiled represent the very best in ballet today. The dancers are brought to life through stories of their lives; real-life interviews; and the stunning photgraphs of Roy Round. This book is for ballet fans; dance students; collectors of photo books; and people who are curious about the performing arts. This is a book that; once opened; will be hard to put down.
#1958224 in eBooks 2003-10-28 2003-10-28File Name: B002DQW9Q2
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great giftBy 01patI bought this book for my sister. I had borrowed it from the library knowing she would like it and she did. She used the one I got for a presentation for her Sorority group on clothing styles and it was a great hit. Thansk!2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Just how DID these classics come into our fashion vocabulary?By overtakenbyanapWhy do these Ten (and I agree it could have been more) classic items figure in almost every list of basics for anyone wanting to dress well?This book answers the question and gives a thumbnail sketch of fashion history. tracing the evolution of each item as it became a classic.This is a great book. glad I bought it. the writing is fresh easy and interesting. and each chapter holds its own.Id happily buy another book by this author. especially if she chooses to write about some of the other classics that didnt make her first ten.12 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Enjoyable. informative and surprisingBy Deb Nam-KraneWhile I would still qualify this as "light" reading. its an intelligent read about a subject some have written off as too inconsequential and that others have elevated to deadly seriousness. This book strikes a nice balance. coming from the point of view that our clothing says a lot about us. whether we are conscious of it or not.While I appreciated the authors writing style and observations (I burst out laughing when she described wannabe hip hop fans in pursuit of the perfect sneaker as foot fetishists). she didnt go out of her way to be too clever or witty (although she did quote quite a few people who arguably do. especially the designer- Manolo Blahnik?- who declares that its all about extremities and the rest of the body is boring. Okay...) In the ten main chapters. the book provides a history of the evolution and a commentary on the social significance of each of the classic ten style items. almost all of which are interspersed with personalities who embodied the spirit of the item. (It should be noted that Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel made an appearance in almost every chapter. Where would modern fashion be without them?)Some points that will stay with me: the seventies/early eighties trend towards natural and the cosmetics executive who bragged about her skill applying twelve different products to achieve the natural look; the evolution of the mens suit to embody the Greek (Greco-Roman) ideal of the perfect body; the foot fetishisms that seem to inform so many footwear designs (and a deplorable ad by Apostrophe involving fetishism and murder- remind me not to buy any of their shoes!).While I couldnt argue with her choices. I found it odd that she did not include black boots or the perfect scarf in her list. That may have pushed her over the all-important number ten. but since she sort of cheated in her discussion of the white shirt (which refers to both the button down version and the T-shirt). I think she should have found a way. But thats a very minor complaint.If youre interested in fashion history and modern dress. this will be an enjoyable read.
