View Full Version : list of dance books
Every now and then someone will name different books that are a good read for dancers. I would really like to order some of them.But, I haven't kept track of all the names. I thought we should have a list... Anyone want to start?:p
I look forward to seeing the list :-)
Some I recall...
Dance to Your Maximum: The Competitve Ballroom Dancer's Workbook by Maximiliaan Winkelhuis
Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology: Principles and exercises for improving techinque and avoiding common injuries by Karen Clippinger
Inner Focus Outer Strength: Using Imagery and Exercise for Health, Strength and Beauty by Eric Franklin
Ideokinesis: A Creative Approach to Human Movement & Body Alignment by Andre Bernard, Wolfgang Steinmuller, Ursula Stricker
Zen Body-Being: An Enlightened Approach to Physical Skill, Grace, and Power by Peter Ralston
SDsalsaguy
02-05-2009, 10:29 PM
There's an excellent list of recommended books (including reviews of each) by Michael Mead at:
dancesportcomps.com/Visitors/Recommended_Books
Warren J. Dew
02-06-2009, 12:10 AM
"The Dancing Years" by Bill and Bobbie Irvine
"Modern Ballroom Dancing" by Victor Silvester
"Steps in Time" by Fred Astaire
SDsalsaguy
02-06-2009, 12:31 AM
"The Dancing Years" by Bill and Bobbie Irvine
Such an incredible book!
tangotime
02-06-2009, 03:11 AM
Every now and then someone will name different books that are a good read for dancers. I would really like to order some of them.But, I haven't kept track of all the names. I thought we should have a list... Anyone want to start?:p
These are probably more Historical than than technical........
Dance in Society.... Dr Francis Rust
Folk Dances of Latin America.... Lisa Lekis
Social Dance, a Short History.. Arthur Franks
The Dancers Heritage... Ivor Guest
The Dancing Master... Frank Borrows
World History of Dance... Curt sachs
A History of English Ballroom Dancing ( 1910 - 45 )... PJS Richardson
Tenehill
02-06-2009, 03:54 AM
Maybe an energetic and knowledgeable Dance Forumer will care to create an article
"Books on Ballroom Dancing" (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%22Books_on_Ballroom_Dancing%22&action=edit&redlink=1)
in wikipedia, so that the many readers could edit and share their opinions?
I have verified, such an article does not exist yet in wikipedia.
thanks to everyone some great choices. I heard of one this week but not necessarily about dancing "So you think you can change your Mind" by Michael Venezuela, how to stay off illness in the mind and he highly recommends dancing for everything mentally, spiritually and socially :-)
Bailamosdance
02-06-2009, 08:03 AM
Latin - Thinking Sensing, Doing RUUD VERMEER
SDsalsaguy
02-06-2009, 09:01 AM
Latin - Thinking Sensing, Doing RUUD VERMEER
Its Ruud Vermeij.
mamboqueen
02-06-2009, 09:06 AM
Its Ruud Vermeij.
Thank you...because I googled and couldn't find it. I had a feeling it was the spelling.
SDsalsaguy
02-06-2009, 09:11 AM
Thank you...because I googled and couldn't find it. I had a feeling it was the spelling.
No problem MQ; glad it helped. :)
mamboqueen
02-06-2009, 09:16 AM
funny...there is also a tuba player by the same name!
tangotime
02-06-2009, 09:52 AM
funny...there is also a tuba player by the same name!
I thought it was the artist... :rolleyes:
Bella
02-06-2009, 10:35 AM
How helpful are dance books? I'm very much of a visual learner, so I would need "book on DVD"
mamboqueen
02-06-2009, 10:37 AM
How helpful are dance books? I'm very much of a visual learner, so I would need "book on DVD"
I'm the same way, Bella, but I think these books are still suitable (at least if they're not showing you step patterns). Funny...many of them teach visualization techniques. Not sure you can visualize visualization *lol*
mamboqueen
02-06-2009, 10:53 AM
And did anyone mention, the famous df writer, Jonathan Marion:
Ballroom: Culture and Costumes in Competitive Dance
Bella
02-06-2009, 10:59 AM
lol, yes I would imagine that visualizing visualization would be quite difficult. ;)
There's an excellent list of recommended books (including reviews of each) by Michael Mead at:
dancesportcomps.com/Visitors/Recommended_Books
Thank you SDsalsaguy!!!! This is exactly what I was looking for;)
piimapoika
02-06-2009, 11:58 AM
Historical:
PJS Richardson: History of English Ballroom Dancing (1946) (Essential reading)
Vernon Castle: Modern Dancing (1914)
Gladys Beattie Crozier: The Tango and how to dance it (1913) (Extremely difficult to get: after many years I eventually got a copy from Chile)
Autobiographical:
Victor Silvester: Dancing is my Life
Bill Irvine: The Dancing Years
Marina Palmer: Kiss and Tango (Argentine tango)
Janet Carlson: Quick, Before the Music Stops (Married woman returns to dancing after a long break)
Juliet McMains: Glamour Addiction (Disaffected competition dancer)
John Nott: Mr Wonderful takes a Cruise (Adventures of a retired government minister - dancing being only one of them)
Fiction:
Lucy Dillon: The Ballroom Class
Jorge Lindman: Tango Tales (Argentine tango - Spanish and English text)
M.A. Numminen: Tango on intohimoni (Available in Finnish, Swedish, German, and Italian)
Argentine tango:
Christine Denniston: The Meaning of Tango
Jo Bain: Tango - Creation of a Cultural Icon
Sonia Abadi: The Tango Scene
Irene D Thomnas and Larry M Sawyer: Temptation to Tango
SDsalsaguy
02-06-2009, 11:59 AM
And did anyone mention, the famous df writer, Jonathan Marion:
Ballroom: Culture and Costumes in Competitive Dance
Thanks MQ. Gotta say that I'm sort of partial to that one myself! :lol:
SDsalsaguy
02-06-2009, 12:00 PM
Thank you SDsalsaguy!!!! This is exactly what I was looking for;)
My pleasure Liz. Its easy enough to search for the books with dance in the title after all, but the others can be quite difficult to keep track of. ;)
Chiron
02-06-2009, 12:33 PM
My favorite dance books...
The Six Questions: Acting Technique for Dance Performance By Daniel Nagrin
Conditioning for Dance by Eric Franklin
ISTD manuals
dancelvr
02-06-2009, 08:05 PM
And did anyone mention, the famous df writer, Jonathan Marion:
Ballroom: Culture and Costumes in Competitive Dance
I'll second this one. A VERY interesting read! :-)
Warren J. Dew
02-06-2009, 08:37 PM
A History of English Ballroom Dancing ( 1910 - 45 )... PJS Richardson
No fair tempting us with books that have been out of print for longer than some of us have been alive!
SDsalsaguy
02-06-2009, 08:50 PM
I'll second this one. A VERY interesting read! :-)
Thanks dancelvr! :p
tangotime
02-07-2009, 02:56 AM
No fair tempting us with books that have been out of print for longer than some of us have been alive!
Can be found in some libraries.... also ( how could I forget !!! )
Scriveners.. " Just One Idea "... probably the best of all named ( for Standard )
piimapoika
02-07-2009, 06:08 AM
As of midday 7th February Abebooks has one copy of Richardson
(http://www.dance-forums.com/http//www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=richardson&sts=t&tn=history+ballroom+dancing&x=56&y=3)
[Edit: link removed because DF software messed up the commercial link & it was redirecting w/in DF -- Staff]
SDsalsaguy
02-07-2009, 09:45 AM
As of midday 7th February Abebooks has one copy of Richardson
Good find for those who'd be interested piimapoika. (And sorry that the system messed up the link you'd provided.)
Warren J. Dew
02-07-2009, 11:03 AM
As of midday 7th February Abebooks has one copy of Richardson
Thanks. I ordered it; we'll see if my order goes through.
They have a copy of Henry Jacques' book listed too! At $350, though, it's a tad steep.
Chiron
02-07-2009, 08:08 PM
I think it is time for me to use some of my resources as an academic to see if I can get a hold of any of the rarer books.
Rumbalicious
02-07-2009, 10:41 PM
If you are dancing pro-am I think you will enjoy "A Year of Dancing Dangerously" by Lydia Raurell. It is along the same biographical lines as previously mentionned "Quick, Before the Music Stops" by Janet Carlson, but I found it more relevant.
dancelvr
02-07-2009, 11:51 PM
If you are dancing pro-am I think you will enjoy "A Year of Dancing Dangerously" by Lydia Raurell. It is along the same biographical lines as previously mentionned "Quick, Before the Music Stops" by Janet Carlson, but I found it more relevant.
I just ordered that book. Can't wait to read it. :-)
Oh...and looked for "The Dancing Years" by Bill and Bob Irvine. Found a used copy for a little over $200! :shock: Ouch! Think I will check my local library system for that one.
Warren J. Dew
02-07-2009, 11:54 PM
Oh...and looked for "The Dancing Years" by Bill and Bob Irvine. Found a used copy for a little over $200! :shock: Ouch! Think I will check my local library system for that one.
Wow ... I should have stocked up when they were on sale at a Blackpool vendor a few years back.
Bella
02-19-2009, 08:20 AM
There's an excellent list of recommended books (including reviews of each) by Michael Mead at:
dancesportcomps.com/Visitors/Recommended_Books
Oh what a pool of choices! Hmmm, which one to choose....
Bella
02-19-2009, 08:21 AM
Just purchased Blink: The power of thinking without thinking. Any reviews?
Any ideas on where to purchase Ruud's book?
Bella
02-19-2009, 08:48 AM
Oh! And dance to your maximum!
I think I'm getting too ahead of myself. ;) If anyone has ideas - holler!
Warren J. Dew
02-28-2009, 12:55 AM
PJS Richardson: History of English Ballroom Dancing (1946) (Essential reading)
Received my copy. Finally I know how the Boston is actually danced!
Lots of good historical information, which I've just started on.
btfgus
02-28-2009, 01:23 AM
Received my copy. Finally I know how the Boston is actually danced!
Lots of good historical information, which I've just started on.
I am terribly jealous.
I almost got my hands on Len Scrivner's book a few years ago, but my plan was foiled. Disappointed.
I just ordered another copy of Jonathan Marion's book, Ballroom: Culture and Costume in Competitive Dance
(http://www.printroom.com/pro/JSMphoto)
From his DFsignature line:
Jonathan S. Marion (http://www.jsmarion.com/) / J. S. Marion Photography (http://jsmarion.mosaicglobe.com/) & Online Sales Albums (http://www.printroom.com/pro/JSMphoto) / My first book: Ballroom: Culture and Costume in Competitive Dance (http://www.amazon.com/Ballroom-Culture-Costumes-Competitive-Dance/dp/1845208005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211677511&sr=8-1)
(http://www.printroom.com/pro/JSMphoto)
Has anyone read either of these books?
"From Ballroom to Bottom Line... in Business and in Life"
by Cher Holton, Bil Holton, 2008
"Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies: An R-Rated Guide for Partnership"
by Elizabeth A. Seagull, Arthur A. Seagull, 2001
j_alexandra
04-26-2009, 08:47 AM
Just purchased Blink: The power of thinking without thinking. Any reviews?
I liked it while I was reading it, but it went in one eye and out the other. I found little in it that was really groundbreaking, and the basic premise was so simple -- not easy, but simple, like so many things -- that it seemed like the book spent a lot of time fleshing out something that didn't need to be said over and over. YMMV.
Has anyone read either of these books?
"From Ballroom to Bottom Line... in Business and in Life"
by Cher Holton, Bil Holton, 2008
"Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies: An R-Rated Guide for Partnership"
by Elizabeth A. Seagull, Arthur A. Seagull, 2001
I have read "from ballroom to bottom line,,, I liked it.
Chiron
04-26-2009, 10:11 PM
I liked it while I was reading it, but it went in one eye and out the other. I found little in it that was really groundbreaking, and the basic premise was so simple -- not easy, but simple, like so many things -- that it seemed like the book spent a lot of time fleshing out something that didn't need to be said over and over. YMMV.
That is pretty much exactly what I thought of it. I though it was good when I read it. I didn't find too much applicable to dance in it. You should trust your instincting most the time because your subconscious becomes aware of things faster that your conscious was the take home message.
latingal
04-26-2009, 11:37 PM
You should trust your instincting most the time because your subconscious becomes aware of things faster that your conscious was the take home message.
Love it....got the cliff notes!
Dance808
05-06-2009, 03:31 PM
That is pretty much exactly what I thought of it. I though it was good when I read it. I didn't find too much applicable to dance in it. You should trust your instincting most the time because your subconscious becomes aware of things faster that your conscious was the take home message.
The section I found most interesting and applicable to dance was the discussion of doctors and determining who would be sued for malpractice. Basically you could tell with a short video clip (no sound) of a doctor visit which one was likely to be sued for malpractice based on attentiveness to patient, body language, eye contact etc.
What it made me think of are those couples that are great dancers but lack that "something" ... the something being presence in the dance (or awareness and attentiveness to each other). A good reminder of a "skill" not easily practiced.
ireniecat
05-06-2009, 06:57 PM
I'm currently reading Psychology of Dance by Jim Taylor and Ceci Taylor.
It talks about motivation, self-confidence, intensity, burnout, etc and how to manage all of those things. It's a bit dry and academic and meant as a teaching resource. Also, the examples are mostly ballet-related. But it was highly recommended by my coach, so I'm plowing through :)
I think the real value in this book is that it shows you through examples how to help your students reach their dancing potential by addressing all the various issues. And at the same time, of course, I'm seeing what I can be doing for myself!
While not specifically a dance book, I recommend Mindfulness by Ellen J. Langer, a Professor of Psychology at Harvard. The book is quite a quick read, although written in an academic manner.
It was quite thought-provoking. Interesting discussion about how one mentally thinks about things can set artificial limits on your physical capabilities, how a different mindset can give you, in an instant essentially, physical capabilities that you had 10-20 years prior, how much of what is thought of physical fatigue (the thought of I-just-can’t-go-on) is highly influenced, and can be overcome with a different mental approach. And each example or point was ‘backed’ by the results of a scientific experiment.
Truth be told, the concepts in this book were mostly ones I’d read of before, but it was presented in such a different way and with such interesting examples and experiments, that I was deeply engrossed and would highly recommend it if you enjoy reading.
Was very interesting and applicable to dance and one’s whole approach to life.
wonderwoman
07-22-2009, 05:25 PM
How helpful are dance books? I'm very much of a visual learner, so I would need "book on DVD"
I'm a nerd and when I'm really interested in something I read every book and article I can find on the subject. And for example, I have half a dozen books on marathon training. I have yet to run a 5K. Haha. Sometimes I wonder if I spend too much time learning or preparing instead of doing.
Daphna
07-23-2009, 09:59 AM
Hi, I'm looking for a ballroom dance coffee table book that was printed about 10-15 years ago. If anyone remembers that name of the book or knows where I can find it, please PM me.
Thanks
DancingMommy
07-23-2009, 12:31 PM
Hi, I'm looking for a ballroom dance coffee table book that was printed about 10-15 years ago. If anyone remembers that name of the book or knows where I can find it, please PM me.
Thanks
I have one or two coffee table books similar. Do you remember the title?
Daphna
07-23-2009, 12:41 PM
Hi DancingMommy, I'm trying to find the name, so if you please send me the names of the two books you have I'll see if I can't get a copy. Thanks
d
There's an excellent list of recommended books (including reviews of each) by Michael Mead at:
dancesportcomps.com/Visitors/Recommended_Books
I just finished Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell and thought it was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It was an eye-opener in many ways and I would recommend it to anyone as I think it has broad applicability to so much of our interactions with our fellow humans.
I also wanted to add that I actually think it is highly relevant to ballroom dancers -- most particularly to those who compete. As I was trying to formalize my thoughts on this, I happened to read Michael Mead's review, from SDsalsaguy's post, and I think he summarized the application for ballroom dancers very nicely.
Definitely a must-read in my opinion.
Joy In Motion
08-18-2009, 09:00 PM
I really enjoyed Janet Carlson's book Quick, Before the Music Stops. I have tried giving other autobiographical dance memoirs a chance, but they are typically very superficial and saccharine, and they all say the same thing. I found Carlson's book very deep and engaging; I couldn't put it down.
Since Argentine tango has been brought up a few times, I also really enjoyed The Meaning of Tango (Christine Denniston) and Long After Midnight at the Niño Bien (Brian Winter). Denniston explores the history and meaning of the tango, while Winter's book is a memoir and almost reads like a novel.
I find it hard to believe that anyone could be really into ballroom or social dance without also being really into music, so one book that I absolutely loved was The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music, by Victor Wooten. Reading it from a dancer's perspective, I found it very insightful on the topics of musicality, improvisation, technique, and energy.
IfMusicBe
08-19-2009, 10:18 AM
Hi, I'm looking for a ballroom dance coffee table book that was printed about 10-15 years ago. If anyone remembers that name of the book or knows where I can find it, please PM me.
Thanks
Could you be thinking of Championship Ballroom Dancing (1994) edited by Frank Regan? I believe he has copies for direct sale. There are also some used copies on Amazon.
There's an excellent list of recommended books (including reviews of each) by Michael Mead at:
dancesportcomps.com/Visitors/Recommended_Books
I just finished It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins. I'm writing this in this thread because this book happens to be in the list of books that SDsalsaguy posted above. Michael Mead does a nice job with the review on that site.
I've had the book for a while but needed to wait until some time had passed from my mother's death through cancer to be ready to read about his cancer journey. I enjoyed the book and recommend it. The things that particularly struck me were the depth of the friendships he has developed and how his friends have supported him throughout; how human his story is -- it definitely is not written in the "I'm a hero" mode; several examples of proving "It can't be done" is incorrect and that "It CAN be done"; and I particularly appreciated his recognition, and openness in discussing, the mental and 'heart' aspects that need to be given attention after (and during) the course of a 'physical' illness.
If you are looking to read an inspirational story from a non-dancer for what that might bring to you in your approach to practices and to mental preparation, I think this is a good book. I would also recommend -- in fact, in some ways more so -- The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin. The movie, Searching for Bobby Fischer, is about Josh's rise in the chess world, but he also became a Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands champion. I read his book a while ago, but there probably isn't a week that goes by that I don't think about two stories in that book -- one he personally observed and the other was his experience in a Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands tournament described at the very end of the book. Truly amazing athlete -- and his character as a human being comes through and is even more inspirational -- lots to learn from this book about life overall, and approaches to dance practice and I'd imagine competitions, although I haven't myself ever competed.
fascination
12-06-2009, 07:22 PM
thanks for sharing...this sounds like a plan as I am headed for a cruise soon and could use some good books
style
12-06-2009, 07:40 PM
Deep survival by Laurence Gonzales. A book that is researched on why people die or live in survival situations. The reason I bring this up is that there is a chapter on fighter pilots on how they think in severe stress areas. They have hundreds of things to know now or they will die. Like when you are getting ready to dance and you forget your whole routine? Or your mind goes blank? So Laurence writes in a way that anybody can understand and how to fix the blackouts.
fascination
12-06-2009, 07:43 PM
thank you and welcome to df
piimapoika
12-09-2009, 02:48 PM
Has anyone read Just One Idea - Ballroom Dancing Analysed by Len Scrivener? Is it worth the £100 -£200 that booksellers are asking?
OliveOyle
12-14-2009, 04:33 PM
I am looking for a good ballroom dancing coffee table book to give as a gift. Does anyone have any ideas that could help me?
hereKittyKitty
12-14-2009, 04:46 PM
I am looking for a good ballroom dancing coffee table book to give as a gift. Does anyone have any ideas that could help me?
Google "Ballroom Icons". This would be an awesome book to give a ballroom enthusiast.
tangotime
12-15-2009, 12:37 AM
Has anyone read Just One Idea - Ballroom Dancing Analysed by Len Scrivener? Is it worth the £100 -£200 that booksellers are asking?
Just my opinion.. I think it is the best ever published for " detail " that seldom gets discussed . Its very much written for the academic side of dance, not only technique, but addresses things that novice competitors frequently ask about , and all in very simple terms .
He was, without doubt, one of the only true autodiadacts in the profession.
It also is very theoretical, and much of what he taught and believed in , was in some instances very controversial
It also includes some photos of past Champions in" Pose "and in " flight " .
And even tho I spent many times seeing them dance, plus lectures and lessons, there are still nuggets of info.that are contained therein.
PS...I dont believe this tome would of much value to the non dancer .
I’ve found many sections of Dance to Your Maximum: The Competitive Ballroom Dancer’s Workbook by Maximiliaan Winkelhuis to be extremely useful. I wanted to mention this because I have not competed. So, if you think you may be interested, don’t get turned off by the “Competitive” in the title. I think it is good for anyone pursuing ballroom dance passionately, not only those who explore that passion currently through competition.
samina
12-20-2009, 01:01 PM
that's good to hear. that book has been on my short list for awhile now...
JANATHOME
12-20-2009, 06:46 PM
Is a great book. There is just so much there though it is one of these books that one can only read a little and then have to ponder and absorb what you read before picking it up again...
I got mine from a DF member who was selling because she had an extra copy... Yea for DF resources, no UK shipping costs.
I looked around looking for a group or forum discussing this book and could never find such a group. I thought that would of been so great... oh well!
samina
12-20-2009, 07:02 PM
i believe there is a DF discussion thread on the topic, started a few years back...
njdancegirl
12-21-2009, 04:53 AM
I too am in the midst of reading it and agree it is a great resource (now I need to really begin incorporating the tips). But no kidding about the cost...the book plus shipping was more than a private lesson!
I learned of the book, The Irvine Legacy by Oliver Wessel-Therhorn, from a good dance friend. I did a search and see that tangotime and vcolfari have written about this book on DF, although I don't think in this thread.
I've only read portions, but had goose-bumps reading what I did read. The love from students for Bill and Bobbie Irvine's teachings, and the absolute love and passion for ballroom dancing comes through so strongly in this book.
The forward is by Marcus and Karen Hilton. William Pino and Alessandra Bucciarelli demonstrate in many photos.
The author has such a nice, funny writing style and it is clear that he has tried very hard to do justice to the teachings of Bill and Bobbie Irvine in passing along that wisdom in this book.
I'm looking forward to telling my dance friend that I enjoyed what I've read from the book. I wanted to add it to the list of dance books we have going in this thread.
This is a great book. I picked up a copy at Blackpool this year. Oliver Wessel-Therhorn is fantastic.
" Irvine Legacy ".. £ 35... it has recd very good reviews, and covers technical breakdowns, in addition to some pictorials .
bluebereft
05-23-2010, 06:52 PM
I've read Eric Franklin's Dance to your Maximum, and it was great. What's the difference between that and Conditioning for Dance?
I've read Eric Franklin's Dance to your Maximum, and it was great. What's the difference between that and Conditioning for Dance?
Are you sure that's not Maximiliaan Winkelhuis's "Dance to Your Maximum" ?
Are you sure that's not Maximiliaan Winkelhuis's "Dance to Your Maximum" ?
I was thinking the same thing. I'm not aware of a book by Eric Franklin by that name. However, I know there are some people on DF who have spoken highly of Eric Franklin and may have read Eric Franklin's Conditioning for Dance, so they may be able to give thoughts on that. I have read (parts) of Maximiliann's book, Dance to Your Maximum, but have not read Franklin's books.
Janet Carlson: Quick, Before the Music Stops (Married woman returns to dancing after a long break)
I found the beginning of the book very uncomfortable to read because of her descriptions of two people (just my nature, and this being my first 'tell all' book as it were. I was hoping they had someone to hug them if they were upset while reading her book). If I knew this book to be fiction, it wouldn’t have been as noticeable to me. However, if you can get past the beginning, it is a detailed, thoughtful view of life lessons gained through dance. I enjoyed reading about her dance lessons and about the role her dance teachers played not only in teaching actual dance, but also in helping her understand the internal complexities that were preventing her from fully expressing herself through dance. Her preparation for a dance exam was also interesting.
If you are dancing pro-am I think you will enjoy "A Year of Dancing Dangerously" by Lydia Raurell.
I think this book might be of particular interest to someone just starting to dance ballroom or someone just starting to think about pro-am competitions. There are many very sweet aspects to it, especially her nice relationship with her teacher, her supportive husband and her appreciation for all of the competition organizers. I think it gave a very welcoming and friendly view of ballroom dance. I would have liked it more had she shared a deeper view of her personal journey and lessons learned.
I’m now reading Just One Idea:Ballroom Dancing analysed by Len Scrivener, recommended by tangotime and The Dancing Years by Bill and Bobbie Irvine, recommended by Warren Dew.
I appreciate piimapoika, tangotime, Warren Dew and Rumbalicious for sharing these book titles and their thoughts about them in this thread. Thank you! My thanks also to libraries – none of these books were in my county’s library system and all came to my hands through interlibrary loans.
AMeader
06-04-2010, 10:57 AM
Any suggestions regarding where to purchase Dance to Your Maximum?
Lorelei
06-04-2010, 01:06 PM
dancesport dot uk dot com, books section
sounddguy
06-07-2010, 09:18 AM
Every now and then someone will name different books that are a good read for dancers. I would really like to order some of them.But, I haven't kept track of all the names. I thought we should have a list... Anyone want to start?:p
A very interesting read for the history is the 1914 Modern Dancing by Vernon and Irene Castle. You can find a version of this on Amazon. The reprint is terrible. No effort was made to clean up the OCR. However, with the purchase you can then download a scan of the original book with the pictures.
latingal
06-07-2010, 10:48 PM
welcome to DF sounddguy!
Wow, I've really enjoyed this thread! I have a very long book list to read through now since I've never read any of these books. It's going to be a busy summer :)
bluebereft
06-09-2010, 07:34 AM
Are you sure that's not Maximiliaan Winkelhuis's "Dance to Your Maximum" ?
oh dear, i made a major booboo! yes i meant max winkelhuis. haha. and after reading franklin's book i do realise that they are very different.
I’m now reading Just One Idea:Ballroom Dancing analysed by Len Scrivener, recommended by tangotime and The Dancing Years by Bill and Bobbie Irvine, recommended by Warren Dew.
I really enjoyed both of these books. A good portion of Scrivener's book was beyond my current comprehension, however, I still found a lot in it to enjoy, I'm glad I read it and I will read it again in the future.
Bill and Bobbie Irvine's book was my cup of tea in every way. I adore this book...I want to own this book ($500+ is out of my current price-range!!)...it is beautifully written, it is a wonderful book for dance and for life, it touched me on such a level, it covers so many topics we have discussed on DF...I absolutely love this book...and I'm mightily upset that I have to return it to the library!!!:D
wonderwoman
06-19-2010, 12:35 PM
Why would a book be $500?
Why would a book be $500?
The book was published in 1970 (before I was born!!!:)) and likely there were only a small number published. Get a small number of anything, and interested collectors (whether book collectors, or ballroom dance history buffs), the price creeps up -- I'm sure there are a number of older books for which the same applies. When you search normal book stores, it says it is out of print and there are no copies -- then you find someone on amazon or some rare bookshop site who has a copy and they can ask a hefty sum for it. I would imagine when it was printed it cost about the same as any other book at the time.
LindyKeya
06-19-2010, 03:08 PM
On Amazon, there are a couple copies of The Dancing Years for just under $55 right now.
On Amazon, there are a couple copies of The Dancing Years for just under $55 right now.
Thanks LindyKeya! That gives me hope that someday soon I may own a copy!! Maybe I was confusing it with the other book in my post -- the one copy of the book of Len Scrivener's work is going for $654 on amazon right now. Wow!
piimapoika
06-20-2010, 03:30 PM
Abebooks.com have 4 copies of Irvine's "The Dancing Years". Cheapest is USD 5.50, most expensive USD 324.88. Get in quick for the cheapo one!
Abebooks.com have 4 copies of Irvine's "The Dancing Years". Cheapest is USD 5.50, most expensive USD 324.88. Get in quick for the cheapo one!
Thanks piimapoika! I missed the $5 one -- I would definitely have jumped on that!! :D
Br0nze
06-21-2010, 08:52 PM
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of Ruud Vermeij's book? I've been looking but cannot find a copy anywhere...
latingal
06-21-2010, 11:52 PM
I bought my from dancesport.uk.com if I remember right.
Does anyone recommend Ballroom Dance by Alex Moore or Modern Ballroom Dancing by Victor Silvester? These two are in my library and I was thinking of taking a look, but am interested in your opinions.
Terpsichorean Clod
06-23-2010, 02:43 AM
Does anyone recommend Ballroom Dance by Alex Moore or Modern Ballroom Dancing by Victor Silvester? These two are in my library and I was thinking of taking a look, but am interested in your opinions.
If you mean Ballroom Dancing by Alex Moore, I like it a lot. The foot diagrams can be helpful. The notes at the end of each figure often have additional information that isn't in The Ballroom Technique. Every once in a while, I revisit the basic technique section at the beginning of the book. Perhaps some day, I'll finally absorb it all. :razz:
vcolfari
06-23-2010, 04:19 PM
I was reading The Dancing Years and was surprised to read that before turning professional, Bobbie Irvine competed "in the "Mixed" section, which is one amateur, one professional." I guess she was the first and maybe only pro-am student to go on to win a professional world championship.
If you mean Ballroom Dancing by Alex Moore, I like it a lot. The foot diagrams can be helpful. The notes at the end of each figure often have additional information that isn't in The Ballroom Technique. Every once in a while, I revisit the basic technique section at the beginning of the book. Perhaps some day, I'll finally absorb it all. :razz:
Thanks TC! Yes, Ballroom Dancing is the title. I'll will take a look at it - thanks! And, yes, some day I will finally absorb it all as well! (I'm giving myself my whole lifetime, though!!:p)
I was reading The Dancing Years and was surprised to read that before turning professional, Bobbie Irvine competed "in the "Mixed" section, which is one amateur, one professional." I guess she was the first and maybe only pro-am student to go on to win a professional world championship.
Yes! I found that fascinating as well.
Dance Anatomy by Jacqui Greene Haas. Published this year, it has over 200 full-color illustrations covering the muscles involved in various dance movements. It does have a lot of terminology from ballet. The author was a professional ballet dancer for the Boston Ballet and other companies. She is now the athletic trainer for the Cincinnati Ballet and treats dancers in physical therapy and postsurgicial rehabilitation.
If you are interested in understanding more about your body as a way of keeping healthy and preventing injuries, I think this book focused specifically for dancers, is interesting compared to regular anatomy books. It does reference jazz and irish dancing and other forms that I've seen thus far, so the intent at least, isn't to be focused solely on ballet.
Warren J. Dew
06-29-2010, 11:21 PM
They have a copy of Henry Jacques' book listed too! At $350, though, it's a tad steep.
Henry Jacques' book is back in print!
www.amazon.com/gp/product/1906830150/ref=ox_ya_os_product
I just ordered mine.
[edited by latingal; deactivated commercial link]
A History of English Ballroom Dancing ( 1910 - 45 )... PJS Richardson
PJS Richardson: History of English Ballroom Dancing (1946) (Essential reading)
Thank you tangotime and piimapoika for this recommendation. I've just started it and I'm loving it already!!:D
book called Physics and the Art of Dance by a physics professor and ballet teacher named Kenneth Laws
Adding three books to our list of dance books -- all by Kenneth Laws:
Physics and the Art of Dance
Physics of Dance
Physics, Dance and the Pas de Deux
I learned of these books when I came across some older posts by Larinda (If you click on the blue arrow above it should take you to one of those posts).
As an aside, if you do a search on DF on "physics" or "Kenneth Laws" there really are some incredibly interesting posts from Larinda, Steve Pastor and a few others. They piqued my interest to such an extent that I'm looking forward to reading these books even though physics was not one of my favorite subjects!:p
I have Physics and the Art of Dance in my greedy little hands right now and just started it last night. All being well, the other two will soon be on their way to me through interlibrary loans.
are they on amazon? I will have to give them a try.
are they on amazon? I will have to give them a try.
I haven't tried to buy them. If they aren't on amazon, one of the posters on this thread has suggested abebooks.com as a good place for out of print books. I'm partial to the library, myself. Just picked up The Physics of Dance which came through interlibrary loan today!
The Irvine Legacy by Oliver Wessel-Therhorn
I wanted to mention here The Irvine Legacy DVD by Oliver Wessel-Therhorn featuring William Pino & Alessandra Bucciarelli. Since it is a DVD, it isn’t a book! ;) The reason I’m including it here in the list of dance books thread, is it is a companion to the book, and this site www. dancesport.uk.com/video/dsi-7036.htm (delete the space) suggests that it contains pretty much the same information, recommending the DVD over the book.
I had the pleasure of having a brief look at the book, and the immense pleasure of seeing the DVD through once. I’m not in a position to recommend one over the other, but thought it would be good to mention that it exists in addition to the book.
It is two DVDs. The instructional one is 130 minutes and the second one is just under an hour containing footage of Bill and Bobbie Irvine dancing and including Bill’s May 2006 lecture on the evolution of the Waltz & Foxtrot at the BDF congress in Blackpool. Bill’s lecture was wonderful. I have goose-bumps now as I write this thinking back on it.
As of the last time I checked, neither the book nor the DVD exist in the U.S. library system. Insert <<aw, shucks!>> emoticon here! I have placed a request with my library to consider buying the book. Understandably, with budgets being tight, the library is not currently in a place to purchase items which aren’t available through their normal discounted book purchasing places. Hopefully they will in the future. Once it is in one library, anyone in the U.S. should be able to borrow it through interlibrary loan.
Br0nze
07-24-2010, 09:43 PM
I bought my from dancesport.uk.com if I remember right.
Was it worth it?
latingal
07-25-2010, 12:30 AM
Was it worth it?
For me, definitely.
Adding three books to our list of dance books -- all by Kenneth Laws:
Physics and the Art of Dance
Physics of Dance
Physics, Dance and the Pas de Deux
I learned of these books when I came across some older posts by Larinda (If you click on the blue arrow above it should take you to one of those posts).
As an aside, if you do a search on DF on "physics" or "Kenneth Laws" there really are some incredibly interesting posts from Larinda, Steve Pastor and a few others. They piqued my interest to such an extent that I'm looking forward to reading these books even though physics was not one of my favorite subjects!:p
I have Physics and the Art of Dance in my greedy little hands right now and just started it last night. All being well, the other two will soon be on their way to me through interlibrary loans.
I've read Physics of Dance and Physics, Dance and the Pas de Deux. I will come back to share more once I've finished the third book, but I'll just briefly note that I'm very happy to have learned of these books and they are well-worth the read! I think I was expecting them to be a bit dry and difficult to understand, and I've found that just isn't the case. They are very well-written and have great illustrations, pictures and examples. I'll write more later, but now for the two reasons I'm writing this post!:
Physics, Dance and the Pas de Deux actually says on the cover that it is an updated version of Physics of Dance. I read Physics of Dance first and I can attest that everything in it is covered in Physics, Dance and the Pas de Deux . I have not finished the last book, so I don't yet know how that relates. I wanted to mention this for those who might be considering buying these books, you will want Physics, Dance and the Pas de Deux, not Physics of Dance if you are choosing between those two.
Also, Physics, Dance and the Pas de Deux is written by Kenneth Laws, as I noted, but it is also written by Cynthia Harvey -- which I didn't realize when I first wrote my post. The update from the first book to this book is significant (I think 10 years of experience and thought occured between the two)-- the examples are much more robust and there is much more discussion on partnering, and ballroom dance is actually directly mentioned a few times (!!) allbeit briefly. Cynthia Harvey is a professional dancer and Kenneth Laws is a physics professor and an amateur dancer. I found it so cool that he started dancing ballet after teaching college physics for 15 years -- so definitely as an adult!
I noticed a new ballroom book is coming! Ballroom!: Obsession and Passion inside the World of Competitive Dance by Sharon Savoy. It appears that it will be available on October 31, 2010.
If any DF-ers read it, please let us know what you think!:D
Br0nze
09-07-2010, 09:15 PM
For me, definitely.
I will go ahead and answer my own question: it was definitely worth it. :cool:
I noticed a new ballroom book is coming! Ballroom!: Obsession and Passion inside the World of Competitive Dance by Sharon Savoy. It appears that it will be available on October 31, 2010.
If any DF-ers read it, please let us know what you think!:D
Quoting myself here...:lol:...I'm about half-way through. Hmmm. I've enjoyed small parts here and there...however, overall must say it isn't my cup of tea.
The Neurocognition of Dance: Mind, Movement and Motor Skills, a textbook edited by Bettina Blasing, Martin Puttke and Thomas Schack
My thanks to Warren Dew for mentioning the books, Modern Ballroom Dancing by Victor Silvester and Modern Ballroom Dancing by Henry Jacques. I enjoyed the portions of them that I read. I did not delve in detail into the step descriptions, but I'm glad to know of them and can peruse them in more detail in the future!
Also, thank you herekittykitty for the mention of Ballroom Icons by Brigitt Mayer-Karakis and U.H. Mayer...gorgeous book...I am having a wonderful time reading it!
samina
03-26-2011, 09:26 PM
Hah...coincidentally, I read Victor Silvester's "Modern Ballroom Dancing Yeserday". :) Have not read the other two you mention, CANI...will add them to my list.
Say, question, as I know your are using your own library's inter-load system...were you able to locate "Dance To Your Maximum" by Max Winkelhuis and the "Latin: Thinking, Sensing & Doing" book by Ruud Vermeij through your library?
Mine came back nil for those two, and I would think they'd be available *somewhere*. The only copy of Max's book they found was supposedly in the Netherlands. I'm inclined to go to the Reference department and tell them I suspect they didn't look hard enough. ;)
Say, question, as I know your are using your own library's inter-load system...were you able to locate "Dance To Your Maximum" by Max Winkelhuis and the "Latin: Thinking, Sensing & Doing" book by Ruud Vermeij through your library?
Mine came back nil for those two, and I would think they'd be available *somewhere*. The only copy of Max's book they found was supposedly in the Netherlands. I'm inclined to go to the Reference department and tell them I suspect they didn't look hard enough. ;)
Nope!...why I started the Dance Book Sharing thread:
An idea popped into my head that might work with regularly posting DF-ers -- book sharing.
I'm not thinking about this in general -- as libraries are really ideal for most books. However, there are some books people have liked on DF that are quite expensive and, unfortunately, are not in the U.S. library system.
pm me a place to mail them before the end of the weekend and I'll get them out to you...:)
samina
03-26-2011, 10:25 PM
Wow, wonderful - thank you, CANI! Have wanted to read both of these for quite some time!
Victor Silvester: Dancing is my Life
I thought this was an interesting memoir. Overall, it didn't delve into enough detail about the dancing (how he learned, his struggles, details about his competitions, his teaching) to be of interest to me as a dance-related book (although, admittedly, I am spoiled by having read The Dancing Years by Bill and Bobbie Irvine, so it could just be that that book is a tough act to follow). I would have liked much more details and personal accounts of his thoughts and emotions along the journey. He certainly shared his personal story but it was missing something for me.
However, I'm still glad I read it -- there was enough about it to enjoy that it wasn't a waste of time. Thank you, piimapoika, for the mention of this book.
piimapoika
04-22-2011, 06:01 AM
I would like to see a book on the history of the various figures - open telemark, impetus turn, oversway, and all the others we know and love - when they were first danced, by whom, what was thought of them at the time, and so on. Has anyone written it?
LindyKeya
04-22-2011, 12:53 PM
Say, question, as I know your are using your own library's inter-load system...were you able to locate "Dance To Your Maximum" by Max Winkelhuis and the "Latin: Thinking, Sensing & Doing" book by Ruud Vermeij through your library?
Mine came back nil for those two, and I would think they'd be available *somewhere*. The only copy of Max's book they found was supposedly in the Netherlands. I'm inclined to go to the Reference department and tell them I suspect they didn't look hard enough. ;)
Check out WorldCat (worldcat.org) to take a look. (A quick look shows they're correct - Dance To Your Maximum is only in the Netherlands. Is it really in Dutch though?)
I would like to see a book on the history of the various figures - open telemark, impetus turn, oversway, and all the others we know and love - when they were first danced, by whom, what was thought of them at the time, and so on. Has anyone written it?
I'm not aware of one (but that's not saying much...)
The Irvine Legacy by Oliver Wessel-Therhorn has a chapter on the history of various figures. Oliver writes that there isn't much recorded history on such things, but that Miss Josephine Bradley had had numerous conversations with ballroom dancers and had captured such conversations in her diaries. Upon her death, she left her diaries to Bill and Bobbie Irvine. Oliver, who wrote his book at the request of Bill Irvine, said he got the information for his chapter from those diaries. So, that is at least one source.
Other books I've read reference figures and their origin as part of the overall flow of the book. For example, Victor Silvester in his book Dancing is my Life references that he invented the natural turn in waltz. He also mentions a few other steps.
So, to my knowledge, there is a smattering of information in a couple of books, but I'm not aware of one that summarizes it all in one book.
Check out WorldCat (worldcat.org) to take a look. (A quick look shows they're correct - Dance To Your Maximum is only in the Netherlands. Is it really in Dutch though?)
It's in English.
piimapoika
04-26-2011, 03:04 AM
Thank you Cani! I will have to reread Dancing is my Life and look out for The Irvine Legacy, which appears to be out of print and Abebooks doesn't have it.
UKDancer
04-26-2011, 03:14 AM
Thank you Cani! I will have to reread Dancing is my Life and look out for The Irvine Legacy, which appears to be out of print and Abebooks doesn't have it.
To the best of my knowledge, 'The Irvine Legacy' is readily available from the publisher, DSI. They have only recently produced a companion DVD, and for the sake of its sales, it is unlikely that they would let the book go out of print.
Thank you Cani! I will have to reread Dancing is my Life and look out for The Irvine Legacy, which appears to be out of print and Abebooks doesn't have it.
You are welcome! Good luck finding The Irvine Legacy!
Joy In Motion
04-28-2011, 01:24 PM
Dance Advantage just posted a guest article with some lesser-known dance/culture books. I will definitely have to read some of these!
13 Books on Dance and Culture (http://danceadvantage.net/2011/04/26/dance-and-culture-books/)
Dance Advantage just posted a guest article with some lesser-known dance/culture books. I will definitely have to read some of these!
13 Books on Dance and Culture (http://danceadvantage.net/2011/04/26/dance-and-culture-books/)
Great -- thanks for posting! I'm fairly certainly that that International Encyclopedia of Dance is in my library's reference section. I've passed it a few times and always meant to take a peek -- perhaps next time!
(/OT -- I hope your book club on that musicality book was wonderful...I wasn't able to follow along at the time, but I've noted the book (took a quick peek at it and it definitely seems like my cup of tea!), and will read it, along with your blog comments, probably some time this year -- I'll let you know in the thread you started here when I do! Just wanted to say thanks for that as well! BOT)
laucy.my
06-09-2011, 01:55 AM
Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
I noticed a new ballroom book is coming! Ballroom!: Obsession and Passion inside the World of Competitive Dance by Sharon Savoy. It appears that it will be available on October 31, 2010.
If any DF-ers read it, please let us know what you think!:D
I just finished this book and I really enjoyed it! It's very passionate and very real. Great and quick read.
I just finished this book and I really enjoyed it! It's very passionate and very real. Great and quick read.
Hey, Yana, thanks so much for sharing!! Glad to hear you enjoyed it! It feels as though it has been forever since I've read a ballroom dance related book -- please do continue to share your thoughts on any others!:D
Another book for our list!
The Six Questions: Acting Technique for Dance Performance by Daniel Nagrin. I learned about this book from samina.
I've only read a bit of it and it is a true workbook, however, the first section, "Work on the Self", has enough gems that for that section alone it is worth getting the book from the library.
I will be interested, when I have time, to delve into the exercises and to continue reading the remaining sections of the book.
However, I think the first section speaks to many themes covered on DF, so I didn't want to delay in adding the book to this thread!
samina
11-15-2011, 05:30 PM
I think I've got all or nearly all of Nagrin's books...he's a delight to read. That book was my first exposure to him, CANI. I found him truly inspired and a...vanguard...in his day. Interesting fella.
I think I've got all or nearly all of Nagrin's books...he's a delight to read. That book was my first exposure to him, CANI. I found him truly inspired and a...vanguard...in his day. Interesting fella.
Very nice -- thank you for sharing!
How to Dance Forever: Surviving Against the Odds by Daniel Nagrin
I haven't read the whole thing, but just read a few chapters I enjoyed -- "The Heart-Mind of the Dancer" and "The Survivors Speak" (great info for the "What's Possible" thread -- it is all comments from professional dancers who continued their professional dance careers, with continued success, into their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s.)
Just wanted to add this book to this thread. The other chapters I haven't read are The Dancer's Day, Diet, Danger, Healers and Treatments, Tricks, etc.
Dance with Me: Ballroom Dancing and the Promise of Instant Intimacy by Julia A. Ericksen.
Anyone read this one? Appears to be a new book from November 2011.
Amazon says Julia is a competitive ballroom dancer and it is about her experiences. Doesn't appear to be available yet in my library system (not my local library and not through inter-library loan). Please let us know if you read it!
SDsalsaguy
03-17-2012, 06:45 PM
Dance with Me: Ballroom Dancing and the Promise of Instant Intimacy by Julia A. Ericksen.
Anyone read this one? Appears to be a new book from November 2011.
Amazon says Julia is a competitive ballroom dancer and it is about her experiences. Doesn't appear to be available yet in my library system (not my local library and not through inter-library loan). Please let us know if you read it!
I did the photos for this book (with two historical exceptions) and wrote an introduction about photographing ballroom and the images used in the book. Would love to know what anyone thinks if they read it. :)
I did the photos for this book (with two historical exceptions) and wrote an introduction about photographing ballroom and the images used in the book. Would love to know what anyone thinks if they read it. :)
Very cool! Thanks for sharing this! Very exciting for you...will definitely make sure I read this one eventually.
The World of Phyllis Haylor and Ballroom Dancing edited by Bryan Allen. I believe I learned of this book in the Ballroom Icons book.
I think those interested in ballroom dancing history might find this of interest. I've only read bits and pieces, but really liked the descriptions of many of the dancers and the development of ballroom dancing. A large part of the book is reprints of articles written by Phyllis Haylor for The Dancing Times.
piimapoika, if you are reading this, I thought of you because the book does contain a number of references to how dance steps came to be.
For example, in the section, "Development of the Left Whisk" she writes "It was Charles Thiebault, that brilliant architect of so many lines in modern Ballroom Dancing - who was teaching with me at the time - who came up with an alternative and I can well remember his suggesting that, taken without rise and fall and with a turn to the left instead of the right, a leftward Whisk action following a basic Whisk "felt rather nice." I too was impressed by the idea and we presented this form of Double Whisk at an Imperial Congress."
I love it. It reminds me of other books I've read from this timeperiod...listening to the dancers describe their experimentation of what felt good and natural and fun...creating the dance movements that we dance today...just brings such a nice picture to mind of what I most love about ballroom dance.
"felt rather nice" Indeed.:D
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