The nature of ballet :
Monahan, James 1912-1985
The nature of ballet : a critic's reflections / [by] James Monahan. - London : Pitman Publishing, ©1976. - vi, 122 p. ; 23 cm.
Includes index.
From Taglioni till today -- Ballet versus the rest -- What ballet does best -- Why a ballet lasts -- Dancers -- Things to come.
"A book which penetrates to the very essence of balletic art is all too rare in a spere where books on ballet history and biographies of its star personalities predominate. But The Nature of Ballet - a critic's reflection is just such a book - a unique and invigorating addition to any ballet library. And, with an author who has for 40 years been ballet critic of The Guardian newspaper, its foundations could hardly be more secure or more wide-ranging.
James Monahan discusses each of the factors which are crucial to a ballet's success - the music, choreography, dancing and decor- and shows how they have all been linked to produce an effective unity in ballet from Taglioni to Balanchine.
Ballet lovers will find much here to stimulate and to please; dance students will find plenty of controversy; all will find this an invaluable study of the strengths - and weakness - of an art form which has all too often eluded analysis." -- Book Jacket
027300364X
76374039
GB76-16559
Ballet--History
GV1787 / .M585
792.809 / MON
The nature of ballet : a critic's reflections / [by] James Monahan. - London : Pitman Publishing, ©1976. - vi, 122 p. ; 23 cm.
Includes index.
From Taglioni till today -- Ballet versus the rest -- What ballet does best -- Why a ballet lasts -- Dancers -- Things to come.
"A book which penetrates to the very essence of balletic art is all too rare in a spere where books on ballet history and biographies of its star personalities predominate. But The Nature of Ballet - a critic's reflection is just such a book - a unique and invigorating addition to any ballet library. And, with an author who has for 40 years been ballet critic of The Guardian newspaper, its foundations could hardly be more secure or more wide-ranging.
James Monahan discusses each of the factors which are crucial to a ballet's success - the music, choreography, dancing and decor- and shows how they have all been linked to produce an effective unity in ballet from Taglioni to Balanchine.
Ballet lovers will find much here to stimulate and to please; dance students will find plenty of controversy; all will find this an invaluable study of the strengths - and weakness - of an art form which has all too often eluded analysis." -- Book Jacket
027300364X
76374039
GB76-16559
Ballet--History
GV1787 / .M585
792.809 / MON