Includes bibliographical references and index.

"A distinguished dance critic offers an enchanting introduction to the art of ballet As much as we may enjoy Swan Lake or The Nutcracker, for many of us ballet is a foreign language. It communicates through movement, not words, and its history lies almost entirely abroad-in Russia, Italy, and France. In Celestial Bodies, dance critic Laura Jacobs makes the foreign familiar, providing a lively, poetic, and uniquely accessible introduction to the world of classical dance. Combining history, interviews with dancers, technical definitions, descriptions of performances, and personal stories, Jacobs offers an intimate and passionate guide to watching ballet and understanding the central elements of choreography. Beautifully written and elegantly illustrated with original drawings, Celestial Bodies is essential reading for all lovers of this magnificent art form"--,Provided by publisher.

"As much as we may enjoy Swan Lake or The Nutcracker, for many of us ballet is a foreign language. It communicates through movement, not words, and its history lies almost entirely abroad-in Russia, Italy, and France. In Celestial Bodies, dance critic Laura Jacobs makes the foreign familiar, providing a lively, poetic, and uniquely accessible introduction to the world of classical dance. Combining history, interviews with dancers, technical definitions, descriptions of performances, and personal stories, Jacobs offers an intimate and passionate guide to watching ballet and understanding the central elements of choreography. Jacobs begins with the most basic concepts, the five positions of the feet, before gradually leading us to the more complex and exciting ideas of dance-for example, using the Romantic ballet Giselle to discuss the two forms of energy present in ballet, Allegro and Adagio. Organized chronologically, Celestial Bodies presents an exhaustive history of the art's development through the last three centuries. Accessible to those who know little or nothing about classical dance, Celestial Bodies will also reach and enchant long-time ballet connoisseurs. Beautifully written and elegantly illustrated with original drawings, Celestial Bodies offers a comprehensive history and an essential guide to this celebrated art form for neophytes and devotees alike"--,Provided by publisher.