First Position: A Century of Ballet Artists
An introductory chapter addresses the audience for this work: ballet fans, professional dancers, aspiring dance students, and those new to ballet. It also touches on the contributions of dancers who, owing to limits of time and space, are not among the selected, but whose influence has nonetheless been lasting. Each of the fifteen chapters begins with a biographical portrait and includes discussions of the dancer's style and artistic background; associations with noted choreographers, composers, artistic directors, and dance partners; relationship with the audience; and critical reception. The author has utilized published and unpublished interviews and source material from dance archives in San Francisco, New York, Havana, and European cities that have served as centers of the ballet world over the last century. Each chapter features photographs and concludes with a list of works performed."This volume features profiles of 15 dancers from around the world….Each profile blends biography and a discussion of the dancer's style and artistic background, associations with choreographers, composers, directors, and partners, and relationship with the audience. Information was drawn from published and unpublished interviews (some with the author) and source material from dance archives in the US and Europe. Dancers were chosen from Singer's poll of choreographers, teachers, administrators, students, dancers, historians, and writers."-Reference & Research Book News"In her sketches, Singer discusses each dancer's artistic background, unique style, work with choreographers, among them the great George Balanchine, and her or his critical evaluation. With an excellent context-establishing foreword by Bruce Marks, and ancillary materials, this volume about dance as an ever-changing art is an excellent and enjoyable reference for both novices and fans."-Booklist