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Home Ballet Magazine Feature Ballet Stories

Ballet Books for Your Reading List

by Cherilyn J. Lee
November 29, 2022
in Feature Ballet Stories
Reading Time: 16 mins read
Ballet Books 2021

Ballet Books for Your Reading List

Traditionally for many, the beginning of a new year marks the moment to make resolutions and set new goals; they are often related to self-care, professional ambitions, and personal relationships.

Thus we’ve compiled a list of ballet books that – albeit indirectly – may contribute to an objective you (or in some cases, a young one in your life) have your heart and mind set on to accomplish in the next twelve months. Plus, reading in itself is an action that helps us grow in many different ways. As NBC campaigns: The More You Know.

This is a diverse nonexhaustive collection of ballet books in terms of target audience, topic, and genre so chances are you will find something that is a good fit. If you’d like to see a more extensive list, head on over to our Ballet Books & Gift Shop where you will find a larger curated selection of products organized by genre.

And if you have any recommendations, please drop us a note in the comments below and we’ll consider adding it to the list!

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BALLET BOOKS LIST

  • Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet (by Jennifer Homans)
  • B Is for Ballet: A Dance Alphabet (by John Robert Allman)
  • Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story (by DK with forward by Viviana Durante)
  • Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life (Gavin Larsen)*
  • A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back (by David Hallberg)
  • Boys Dance! (by John Robert Allman)
  • Bunheads (by Misty Copeland)
  • Center Center (by James Whiteside)*
  • Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Joy in the Everyday (by Jordan Matter)
  • Final Bow for Yellowface (by Phil Chan)
  • Grand Jeté and Me (by Allegra Kent)*
  • Mao's Last Dancer (by Li Cunxin)*
  • Mr. B: George Balanchine's 20th Century (by Jennifer Homans)*
  • The Nutcracker (by New York City Ballet)
  • The Painted Girls (by Cathy Marie Buchanan)
  • Rudolf Nureyev: The Life (by Julie Kavanagh)
  • Swan Dive: The Making of a Rogue Ballerina (by Georgina Pazcoguin)*
  • Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina (by Michaela DePrince)
  • Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet (by Gail Grant)
  • Tiny Pretty Things (by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton)
  • Welcome to Ballet School (by Ashley Bouder)

Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet

by Jennifer Homans

Homan’s background as a former professional ballerina, dance critic, and historian of modern Europe provides the ingredients to make for a thorough and insightful chronicle of ballet. She takes the reader on a journey of ballet’s origins, to its geographical expansion, and to its evolution when it finally reached the United States.

Buy Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet
  • Return to Full List

B Is for Ballet: A Dance Alphabet

by John Robert Allman

Created in partnership with American Ballet Theatre, Allman creates for readers young and older an educational, alphabetical exploration of some of the most significant words in the ballet vernacular. Rachael Dean’s illustrations add vibrant color to the experience.

Buy B Is for Ballet
  • Return to Full List

Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story

by DK with forward by Viviana Durante

This reference book is a chronological history covering renowned ballet companies and dancers as well as over seventy ballets. Illustrations and rare photographs accompany the easy-to-read layout and cleanly-displayed timelines making the learning both literary and visual.

Buy Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story
  • Return to Full List

Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life

by Gavin Larsen

In an episodic nature with essays written from different narrative perspectives, Ms. Larsen’s memoir takes the reader on her ballet journey from the first steps in a dance studio to the final bow on stage. This book marks Ms. Larsen’s debut as a published book author.

Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life
  • Return to Full List

A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back

by David Hallberg

This autobiographical memoir of the current Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet was written while Hallberg was still a principal with American Ballet Theatre. He tells about the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of his artistic career and provides intimate insight into the life of an elite ballet dancer. 

Buy A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back
  • Return to Full List

Boys Dance!

by John Robert Allman

Written by the author of the aforementioned B is for Ballet, this book is dedicated specifically to celebrating the male dancer. Luciano Lozano imagines the words into illustrations and photographs and interviews of influential ABT members compliment the story.

Buy Boys Dance!
  • Return to Full List

Bunheads

by Misty Copeland

With a few releases under her belt already, Copeland’s latest features herself as the young protagonist hearing about Coppélia for the first time. Readers will not only hear an inspiring tale, but will also learn about this fun, comedic ballet via Setor Fiadzigbey’s illustrations.

Buy Bunheads
  • Return to Full List

Center Center

by James Whiteside

In what is subtitled, “A Funny, Sexy, Sad Almost-Memoir of a Boy in Ballet”, Whiteside discusses not only his path to becoming one of the most well-known ballet dancers of the 21st century but also how his two alter egos – JbDubs (a pop musician) and Ühu Betch (a drag queen) – have made him one of the most popular celebrities beyond the ballet space.

Buy Center Center
  • Return to Full List

Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Joy in the Everyday

by Jordan Matter

This photographic coffee table book started when Matter asked a Paul Taylor Dance Company member to dance in a place least expected. He loved the results and the result is a collection of dancers using New York City and beyond as their stage to portray “A Celebration of Joy in the Everyday”.

Buy Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Joy in the Everyday
  • Return to Full List

Final Bow for Yellowface: Dancing between Intention and Impact

by Phil Chan

Over the past several years, there has been more public awareness and acceptance about the fact that cultural stereotypes are often portrayed in many of our beloved classical ballets. Chan has been at the forefront of advocacy for the Asian community in particular in this ongoing global conversation.

Buy Final Bow for Yellowface
  • Return to Full List

Grand Jeté and Me

by Allegra Kent

Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser of Fancy Nancy fame, this charming tale of the annual holiday tradition of a grandmother and granddaughter in the heart of New York City is sure to warm your hearts and trigger memories of your experiences seeing The Nutcracker.

Buy Grand Jete and Me
  • Return to Full List

Mao’s Last Dancer

by Li Cunxin

The current Queensland Ballet Artistic Director’s inspiring autobiographical story from peasant to ballet star has also been made into a film. Li Cunxin’s talent was spotted during his youth at which time he was taken from his small Chinese village to bustling Beijing before arriving in the United States – a journey that would take him to levels he never imagined. 

Buy Mao's Last Dancer
  • Return to Full List

Mr. B: George Balanchine’s 20th Century

by Jennifer Homans

A dance critic for The New Yorker, Jennifer Homans has spent the last decade researching the life of George Balanchine, undoubtedly one of the most renowned and popular choreographers of the last century. This extensive, major biography – the first one ever written – relates the actions and decisions of this balletic genius with the historical events that occurred during his lifetime.

Buy Mr. B: George Balanchine's 20th Century
  • Return to Full List

The Nutcracker

by New York City Ballet

A ballet book list would feel incomplete without the inclusion of some version of The Nutcracker. This finely illustrated (by Valeria Docampo) version is based on George Balanchine’s production which New York City Ballet presents annually at Christmastime.

Buy The Nutcracker
  • Return to Full List

The Painted Girls

by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Buchanan’s book although categorized as a novel contains elements of historical fiction about the period of time when Edgar Degas sculpted one of his most (in)famous works, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen. As essayed in this CNN article, there exists a sordid side to the history of the beautiful art of ballet.

Buy The Painted Girls
  • Return to Full List

Rudolf Nureyev: The Life

by Julie Kavanagh

Kavanagh’s biography detailing the professional and personal escapades of one of classical ballet’s most iconic and dynamic figures is considered one of the most definitive by literary critics. Rudolf Nureyev’s story which was recently told in cinematographic form in The White Crow is based on this particular writing. 

Buy Rudolf Nureyev: The Life
  • Return to Full List

Swan Dive: The Making of a Rogue Ballerina

by Georgina Pazcoguin

Known for her dancing as a soloist with New York City Ballet and for her partnership with Phil Chan of Final Bow for Yellowface fame, Pazcoguin goes out on her own this time with her very own memoir. She shares her life as a ballerina and social activist for readers to see the world through her eyes.

Buy Swan Dive
  • Return to Full List

Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina

by Michaela DePrince and Elaine DePrince

Once an orphan, now a sought after ballerina, DePrince’s memoir shares her childhood hardships and progressive triumphs with the rest of the world. Her inspirational story created headline news and will soon be made into a major motion picture directed by Madonna.

Buy Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina
  • Return to Full List

Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet

by Gail Grant

This resource book has been a staple in dance studios for decades, a reference for teachers and students alike. Its extensive dictionary of ballet terms provides pronunciation, phonetic description, literal translation, and details about their practical use and execution in the ballet space. 

Buy Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet
  • Return to Full List

Tiny Pretty Things

by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton

Netflix has succeeded in bringing ballet into the mainstream even if it is from a more dramatic and gossipy perspective. It is based on this two volume series about three top-level dancers at a prestigious New York City ballet school and the trials and tribulations of their ballet career.

Buy Tiny Pretty Things
  • Return to Full List

Welcome to Ballet School

by Ashley Bouder

This debut book by Bouder, a New York City Ballet principal dancer, is an interactive read that encourages young ones to first learn some basic ballet lessons and then develop their interpretations of characters from The Sleeping Beauty. The illustrations by Julia Bereciartu exemplify the importance of diversity.

Buy Welcome to Ballet School
  • Return to Full List
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*book added after initial publication of this article

Featured Photo for Ballet Books for Your Reading List by The Ballet Herald

This post about ballet books contains affiliate links. This means that if you buy something through those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but we may receive a small commission.

Tags: books
Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn's lifelong passion for ballet has opened the door to the next chapter of her journey. Her strong foundation includes training at the School of American Ballet, being a featured dancer with Hartford Ballet and Carolina Ballet, and being co-director/owner of City Ballet Raleigh. She was granted the Affiliate Teacher Award after successfully completing the ABT National Training Curriculum®. A professional career in the industry along with extensive global travel provide her with a unique set of experiences to draw upon as a journalist and audience member. Cherilyn is excited to be sharing her insight about ballet around the world.

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Comments 2

  1. Jennifer McKendry says:
    2 years ago

    𝐌𝐚𝐨’𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐢 𝐂𝐮𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐧: “The extraordinary memoir of a peasant boy raised in rural Maoist China who was plucked from his village to study ballet and went on to become one of the greatest dancers of his generation.” ~ Goodreads

    This international best seller was published in 2005 and was made into a movie a few years later. It is a very moving true story of a talented, young boy’s journey to stardom, encountering many political, familial, and personal relationship issues along the way.

    Li Cunxin’s story is inspiring, and deep enough for the book to have a young reader’s edition! – less details and historical facts. He became one of the greatest ballet dancers in the world – as well as a choreographer and artistic director. Quite an accomplishment, by any means!

    Even though the book, as well as the movie, is over a decade-old, one can still find them…it will be well-worth the effort!

    Reply
    • Cherilyn says:
      2 years ago

      Thank you for the recommendation, Jennifer – it’s now part of the article! I saw the movie and absolutely loved it…now to add the book to my reading list 🙂

      Reply

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