Eyewitness Dance

In this text, discover the many kinds of dance around the world - from the magic of ballet to the drama of flamenco. From the earliest times, dance has been part of every culture. People dance to express their feelings, to worship their gods, or just to enjoy themselves. Dance continues to be as important to us as ever, whether we are watching a spectacular performance in a theatre, celebrating special events in a community, or simply exercising at a dance class. The book describes many different dances from around the world: from temple dances in India to samba dances at a carnival in Brazil. It explains the history of ballet and introduces some of the great stars of dance, from Nijinsky and Pavlova to Fred Astaire. It shows some of the sumptuous costumes worn by dancers and the many settings for dance, from village clearings to lavish film sets. Step-by-step sequences and colour photographs offer an 'eyewitness' view of dance traditions - see a ballet costume designed by Picasso, dancers who balance on stilts and head-dresses studded with gemstones. Learn why male dancers sometimes dress as women, the stories of the great classical ballets and why the tango was banned. Discover why Javanese dancers 'flow like water'; dance crazes from the 20th century and the dervishes who whirl around to worship Allah.