Put Your Best Foot Forward: A Young Dancer's Guide to Life [With 2 Removable Posters]

by Suki Schorer

Book Overview

Suki Schorer studied with the towering George Balanchine, became a principal dancer in his company, the New York City Ballet, and then joined him as a teacher at the school he founded--the School of American Ballet. And she will be the first to confirm that just about everything a young girl needs to know about life can be learned in ballet class. How to be always balanced. How to find the strength to follow your heart. How to turn a mistake into part of the dance. How to put your best foot forward. And how to find the self-esteem, focus, and discipline needed in life. An inspirational gift book for any girl who ever took dance classes and dreamed of being a ballerina, "The Ballet School of Life "is a unique collection of wisdom and illustration, of life lessons set against a backdrop of dramatic full-color photographs of young dancers and whimsical, theatrical watercolors of butterfly wings and fairy-tale castles, tiaras, and stage settings. Written by Suki Schorer with the assistance of the School of American Ballet, the lessons are simple and motivating and reveal that dancers in training learn much more than how to plie or stand on pointe: "Your body is your instrument. Even Sugar Plum Fairies sew their own ribbons. It takes strong wings to fly high. Do something extraordinary just because you can. Never miss a beat. And, to remember always, When storms rage and waters rise, glide like the swan.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761137955
• ISBN13: 9780761137955
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.8" x 7.2"
• Age Range: 9 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 8

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Book

My daughter found this book to be a wonderful read and packed with advice and suggestions she understoond and thought were important. I recomend this to anyone with a young or tween dancer.

perfect gift for a young dancer

I bought this book for my daughter who teaches dance in Brisbane Australia. I thought it was a great idea for an encouragement award at the end of the year for one of her young students. No only is it a book on dance but a book on life and the secrets of a happy life. Beautifully presented and illustrated. My daughter loved it and has put it away for the end of the year. Thanks.

Ballet is Life

A lovely gift for the young ballerina (8 to 12), this book captures the many ways ballet training can be applied to life's challenges. The young dancers who illustrate the text are beautiful examples of School of American Ballet style. And who better to reflect on the teachings of Balanchine than master ballet teacher Suki Schorer. Her optimistic, life-affirming insights into how to bring the basics of the barre to the center stage of life will be inspiring for young girls who love ballet. I only wish the credits had included the names of the ballet students who posed for these charming photos.