Meet the Dancers: From Ballet, Broadway, and Beyond
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Dancers from all kinds of backgrounds talk about their different paths to success as ballerinas, modern dancers, music video performers, and Broadway showstoppers. Children's Literature This absorbing book will appeal to all kids who love dance, especially those who are taking classes and considering dance as a career. Nathan interviews sixteen successful dancers, who share their unique experiences and insights with aspiring performers. Each tells about discovering dance and starting lessons, struggles with technique, discipline necessary for improvement, and choices to be made in a professional career. From the world of ballet, Nathan talks with Gillian Murphy of ABT, Lauren Anderson from Houston Ballet, Teresa Reichlen and Amar Rascar of New York City Ballet, and Aesha Ash of Morphoses, among others. Modern dance is represented by Clifton Brown from Alvin Ailey, Lauren Grant and David Leventhal of Mark Morris, and Jamal Story, who started with modern and ended up on Broadway, as did Nancy Lemenager, Broadway star. Judiciously placed sidebars shed light on issues like warming up, accepting corrections, finessing auditions, coming to terms with your own body and style, working in a professional company, and life after dance. From schedules of each dancer's typical day, readers will discover that dancing is a demanding, full-time job that often means sacrificing other interests, but brings much joy along with personal and artistic fulfillment. Abundant photos show the dancers in action, including each as a child or teen; another fun feature is "Sugar Plum Sightings," revealing that all but four appeared at least once in some production of the ubiquitous Nutcracker. Well researched and neatly produced, this survey makes irresistible reading for dance-lovers of any age. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
Introduction: Dance On 3Ballet Dancer, American Ballet Theatre Gillian Murphy 9Modern Dancer, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Clifton Brown 23Ballet Dancer, Houston Ballet Lauren Anderson 35From Breakdancing to Ballet to Broadway John Selya 47Ballet Dancer, New York City Ballet Teresa Reichlen 59Ballet Dancer, New York City Ballet Amar Ramasar 71Modern Dancer, Mark Morris Dance Group Lauren Grant 83Modern Dancer, Mark Morris Dance Group David Leventhal 95Modern Dancer, Paul Taylor Dance Company Julie Tice 107Modern Dancer, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Glenn Allen Sims 119From Ballet to Modern to Broadway Elizabeth Parkinson 129From Jazz to Ballet ... and Back Aesha Ash 141From Modern to Broadway, by Way of the Stars Jamal Story 153Ballet Dancer, Boston Ballet Sarah Wroth 165L.A. Dancer Nick Florez 175Broadway Dancer Nancy Lemenager 189Glossary 201Resources 211Acknowledgments 217Index 221
