Ballet School

Book excerpt: Welcome to your first day at ballet school! Put on your ballet shoes and let’s master your basics with author and New York City Ballet principal Ashley Bouder. Learn five basic lessons, then visit the costume room, before putting on your very own show of Sleeping Beauty at the end. There's no admissions policy to our Ballet School. Whether you are already learning ballet, or thinking about starting, this class if for you. Learn your pliés, first positions, jetés, pirouettes, and grand battements. But what happens if you fall? How do you stretch and look after your body? What do you eat to keep going through rehearsals? How do you get ready for class? No worries—it's all answered in this book from professional ballerina Ashley Bouder. Then go on to learn the characters and interpretations of Sleeping Beauty—taught in an inclusive way so anyone can dance the parts they want to. A helpful glossary at the back provides a review of ballet terms and how to pronounce them. Tutus are optional.