Ballet for Martha

 I didn't know this story before, though I was familiar with the dancer Martha Graham.  It focuses on the colaboration between all the artists- dancer, composer, choreographer, set designer, that created the American ballet "Appalachian Spring". 

Ballet for Martha 

Making Appalachian Spring

Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

illustrated by Brian Floca 2010

Tales from the Ballet

Tales from the Ballet

adapted by Louis Untermeyer

illustrated by A. and M. Provensen 1968

Louis Untermeyer was a prolific author and contributer to children's literature.  Not only did he adapt stories for children, but he also published many well regarded anthologies of poetry.  It's definitely worth looking for his Golden Treasury of Children's Literature and Poetry books.  They sometimes pop up at thrift stores (where we've gotten our copies).   

Here are his adapted stories of the ballet.  Illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen in a style that's particularly dense and with a midcentury modern feel.  Years ago I would not have been drawn to this style of illustration, but recently I've found myself absolutely loving it.  I used to think it looked untidy and abstract, but I've come to admire the decptively detailed and intentional colors of the compositions.  

All the big ballet stories are here, "Giselle", "Copellia", etc...  Our favorite thing is to read about the story and then look up youtube videos of the dances.  Ondine was one of our favorites.

The How and Why Wonder Book of Ballet

Another book to add to our ballet section.  Chock full of information like how ballet started, where the word "ballet" comes from (the Italian ballare, which means "to dance"), ballet costumes, sets, and stories.  I was particularly interested in the section of Labanotation- a method for writing down dance movements, originated by Rudolf Laban.  It's almost like writing a music score with a staff and symbols.  I can't quite figure it out, but it's fascinating!

The How and Why Wonder Book of Ballet

1961

Sheilah Beckett's The Nutcracker

Just before Christmas (in what may become a yearly tradition), we went to see the Nutcracker Ballet performed.  In the beautiful Academy of Music we marveled at the architecture, the gilded decorations, the massive chandelier.  And as we sat up in the 3rd floor balcony, the music swelled and swirled around us.  Tchaikovsky's songs so familiar and yet still exciting and beautiful.  The dancers were wonderful and I worried needlessly about Charlotte's attention span- she was mesmerized.

Of course there are many versions of the Nutcracker story.  In this Little Golden Book one, Sheilah Beckett works her usual charm.

The Nutcracker

Rita Balducci 1991

Illustrated by Sheilah Beckett

Other books illustrated by Sheila Beckett:

The 12 Days of Christmas

The Christmas Story

Other books about The Nutcracker:

E.T.A. Hoffman The Nutcracker

Of Swans, Sugarplums, and Satin Slippers

Of Swans,  Sugarplums, and Satin Slippers

Ballet Stories for Children

Violette Verdy 1991

illustrated by Marcia Brown

Today is Charlotte's first day of ballet class.  She's very excited.  We have her black leotard, pink tights and ballet shoes all ready.  This summer we read this book over several nights at bedtime.  After each story we looked up the ballet on youtube and watched some of the dances.  I think that really made it come alive for Charlotte.  The stories included The Firebird, Coppelia (which I think was Charlotte's favorite and the ballet we saw performed was amazing), Giselle, Swan Lake, and the Nutcracker of course.

Ballet

Charlotte has never even seen ballet but lately she's been talking non-stop about it.  So today we dug out an old leotard and some ballet books that were Madeleine's.  In the kitchen, using chairs as a barre we practiced plies.  We followed the pictures in the book showing feet and hand positions.  Charlotte had me hold her leg up like the couple on one of the pages.  I think it might be time to sign up for a dance class!

My Ballet Book

Kate Castle 1998

This book covers everything about ballet- the positions, the performance, stage design, costumes, makeup, backstage, dance stars, the history of ballet, the music, etc...

 

Then we read through the stories of some of the most famous ballets:  Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.  There are all sorts of tidbits about costumes and sets and ballet traditions.  The book opens with an introduction by the ballerina Darcy Bussell.

DK Read & Listen: Illustrated Book of Ballet Stories (DK Read & Listen)

Barbara Newman 1997

illustrated by Gill Tomblin