On Their Toes, Young Dancers at, a Russian Ballet School - Hardcover

This impressive photo-essay chronicles the prescribed routines of Russian ballet students lucky enough to be admitted to Leningrad's competitive Vaganova Choreographic Institute--where many world-renowned dancers have studied. In her fluid and engrossing text, Morris writes that "many of the students will become famous dancers too, but it will take many years of practice and patience. They will have less time for play than most children, but for them dancing is their play. They prefer dancing to anything else in the world." Dedication is clearly a prime requisite, since the pupils must balance hours of dance classes with a rigorous academic schedule and responsibilities at home. Though each facet of the young students' lives is touched upon, the focus here is primarily on their dance training. Dynamic, vivid photos of various sizes are deftly presented on glossy stock, while dreamy photographic endpapers reflect the graceful beauty and endless hopes of these terpsichorean aspirants. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Grade 3-6-- Not since Leon Harris's lively look at The Russian Ballet School (Atheneum, 1970; o.p.) have readers had an inside view of Russian youngsters being trained for this physically demanding career. On Their Toes focuses on the Vaganova Choreographic Institute, the school of the Kirov Ballet. Full-color photographs concentrate on students from the second-year class, showing them at work and at play, in the studio and at home. Especially appealing is a series of playful outdoor shots of dancing in the park. The final photos of a student performance features older dancers. The text is straightforward and informative, but the spirit is in the visual images. --Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.