Elements of Classical Ballet Technique

Elements of Classical Ballet Technique as Practiced in the School for the Dance Theatre of Harlem champions the rich heritage of American dance from Fanny Elssler's triumphs to the square dances of the pioneers and on to the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Originally published in 1977, the text serves as a theoretical and practical outline of Shook's teaching philosophies. The book is divided into three parts: The Antecedents; The Theory; The Practice. In The Antecedents, Shook respectively discusses the tradition of a dance teacher, the American attitude, classical ballet and the development of Dance Theatre of Harlem. The Theory and The Practice are divulgences into Shook's philosophies on teaching, supplemented by a syllabus for the elementary grades of ballet. Elements of Classical Ballet Technique is ideal for the dance teacher who strives to nourish mental flexibility and dexterity of character in their students, as well as to provide and hone technical training.