10 Dance Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Finis Jhung's decades-long career as a ballet dancer and teacher shines through in this pictorial memoir, weaving his personal journey with nearly 300 rare photographs. You gain insight into the evolution of ballet technique, the vibrant dance scenes of Broadway and renowned companies, and the profound influence of his Buddhist conversion on his artistry. Chapters recount his experiences with the Joffrey and Harkness companies and illustrate his efforts to make ballet accessible through innovative teaching methods. If you seek a blend of dance history, personal reflection, and visual storytelling, this memoir offers a nuanced glimpse into ballet's demanding yet inspiring world.

What started as Gavin Larsen's personal journey through 18 years on stage became a revealing exploration of the physical and emotional demands of ballet. Through candid stories, Larsen takes you from her early struggles in advanced classes to the exhilarating and grueling realities of company life, including injuries and fleeting moments of triumph. You gain insights into the discipline, resilience, and identity challenges dancers face, illustrated vividly by chapters like her breakthrough auditions and the difficult choice to retire. This memoir is particularly suited for aspiring ballet dancers but also offers a window for anyone curious about the dedication behind the art form.

This tailored book explores a personalized pathway through the multifaceted world of dance mastery, focusing on your unique interests and background. It delves deeply into dance techniques, performance artistry, and skill development, revealing how to refine your movement and expressiveness with precision. By synthesizing collective expert knowledge, it crafts a tailored learning journey that matches your goals and current skill level. This approach ensures you engage with material that truly resonates, covering foundational principles alongside specific technical skills relevant to your dance aspirations. Embrace a focused, immersive experience that evolves with your personal rhythm and artistic vision.

Mark Knowles, a seasoned choreographer with experience in over 300 theatrical productions, offers a unique contribution to tap dance through this specialized dictionary. Rather than teaching you how to tap, this book catalogs the vast and varied terminology of tap dance steps, from common to obscure, with clear descriptions, counts, and historical context. You’ll find entries on everything from the A,B,C Step to rare moves like the Patting Juba, helping you understand the language that dancers and choreographers often use differently. This reference suits anyone deeply involved in tap, whether dancers, teachers, or historians, seeking precise step definitions rather than performance instruction.

Jacqui Greene Haas's decades of experience as both a professional ballet dancer and a performing arts athletic trainer culminate in this detailed exploration of the muscular and anatomical demands of dance. You gain a clear understanding of how specific exercises target muscles, joints, and tendons to enhance strength, flexibility, and injury prevention, illustrated through over 100 vibrant anatomical images. Chapters focus on key body areas such as the pelvis and shoulders while also addressing the mental aspects of performance anxiety. Whether you’re a dancer seeking to refine technique or an instructor aiming to deepen your anatomical knowledge, this book offers practical insights grounded in Haas's unique dual expertise.

What sets Neil Baldwin's biography of Martha Graham apart is how it reshaped understanding of modern dance through the life of an artist who redefined the form. Baldwin, with his background in theatre and dance scholarship, digs deep into Graham’s pioneering technique and her role in moving dance from classical ballet to something uniquely American and modern. You explore not only her choreography but also her complex personal relationships and her influence on figures like Merce Cunningham. This book suits anyone wanting to grasp how modern dance's emotional intensity and physical expression evolved through one of its most iconic figures.

This tailored book explores focused exercises and techniques designed to rapidly enhance your dance skills. It covers essential movement principles, practice routines, and skill-building drills that match your background and specific dance interests. The personalized approach ensures the content addresses your unique goals, whether improving technique, endurance, or artistry. By concentrating on your priorities, the book reveals a clear path to noticeable progress in just 30 days. Through a custom synthesis of expert knowledge and your input, this book examines effective ways to develop rhythm, coordination, and style. It provides a motivating and approachable guide that helps you deepen your dance practice with precision and enthusiasm, making each session count toward your transformation.

Marc Happel’s decades as New York City Ballet’s Director of Costumes culminate in this vivid exploration of dance and fashion’s intersection. You learn how designers like Virgil Abloh and Carolina Herrera adapt haute couture to the demands of ballet movement, blending artistry with functionality. The book offers behind-the-scenes access to original sketches and designer insights, while Pari Dukovic’s photography captures dancers in dynamic motion wearing these creations. If you appreciate both ballet’s grace and fashion’s craftsmanship, this book deepens your understanding of how costume design amplifies storytelling on stage.

Acia Gray's decades of touring and teaching experience shape this detailed exploration of tap dance, inviting both newcomers and seasoned dancers to deepen their practice. You’ll find clear instruction on foundational steps like The B.S. Chorus and The Shim Sham Shimmy, alongside guidance to spark your improvisational and choreographic skills. The book situates tap within its rich history by referencing legends such as Honi Coles and Savion Glover, grounding technique in tradition. Whether you're building your first solid rhythm or seeking to expand your creative voice, this guide offers a thoughtful bridge between learning and artistry.

After extensive reporting on cultural dynamics, Chloe Angyal explores ballet's complex intersection with gender, race, and class. You gain insight into how entrenched power structures shape ballet’s traditions, alongside stories of dancers challenging these norms. The book delves into ballet’s beauty ideals, leadership imbalances, and racial barriers, offering nuanced perspectives rather than simple solutions. If you're interested in the evolving social landscape of performing arts or the behind-the-scenes realities dancers face, this book offers a clear-eyed look at ballet’s future through candid narratives and thoughtful analysis.

Candace Egbert challenges the assumption that skilled dancers naturally become effective teachers, offering a thoughtful bridge between performance and pedagogy. You’ll find clear guidance on translating ballet technique into engaging lessons, with chapters dedicated to alignment, rotation, and classroom presence, helping you understand not just what to teach but why each step matters. This book speaks directly to those stepping into teaching roles, whether fresh or experienced, seeking to connect deeply with students and invigorate their instruction. Egbert’s blend of physics, practical tips, and personal teaching insights equips you to build rapport and inspire, making this a grounded resource for dance educators wanting to leave a lasting impression.

Unlike most dance books that focus heavily on technique, this volume by Lindsay Guarino and Wendy Oliver traces jazz dance through its rich historical and cultural roots. You’ll gain insight into jazz dance’s African origins, its evolution through vernacular forms like the Charleston and Lindy Hop, and its many branches including tap, hip-hop, and funk. The editors bring together expert voices to explore jazz dance’s aesthetics, training, and social contexts, providing a nuanced understanding beyond surface movements. If you want to deepen your grasp of jazz dance’s complexity and how it relates to other styles, this book offers detailed chapters on figures like Bob Fosse and Katherine Dunham that bring history vividly to life.