Ballroom Dancing
The Romance, Rhythm and Style
John Lawrence Reynolds
Laurel Glen
Hardcover 192 pages (October 1998)
Language: English
240x320mm
ISBN / Barcode: 9781571456212
Subject: Performing Art Ballroom Dance
First things first: BALLROOM DANCING is not a "How to" book - you'll find none of those left-foot/right-foot diagrams, joined by dottted lines, on its pages. Instead, you'll see over 100 color photos (most taken by me during visits to ballroom dancing competitions in Europe and North America) and discover an insight into the phenomenon of Ballroom Dancing - or, if you prefer, "DanceSport." I am not a competitive dancer - not even an especially good social dancer. But I was inspired, years ago, by the reply of Adlai Stevenson when asked how he planned to spend his retirement years. "I would like," Stevenson said, "to sit under a tree, drink wine, and watch people dance." Precisely. Watching talented dancers perform is one of the most satisfying - and perhaps oldest - of all spectator sports. So BALLROOM DANCING is written from the outside in - from a fan who admires the moves of the dancers, understands most of them, and can perform a few. This makes the book a journey in text and photos - exploring the appeal of the dance, assessing the explosion of interest in it, conversing with key personalities, visiting legendary locations (such as the Blackpool Festival - DanceSport's "Super Bowl"), and eavesdropping on ongoing debates (Is Olympic recognition really A Good Thing? Can Ballroom Dancing really be called a sport? Are its participants really athletes?) The primary dances themselves are described, from their historical roots through their social acceptance to competitive-level performances. Finally, the photos themselves reveal so much about the intensity and beauty of the performers - and, let's face it, of the performers' physiques as well. This is a book for both dancers and non-dancers to savor. Dancers, I suspect, will appreciate a book which presents their unique culture to a wider audience with respect and depth. Non-dancers, I'll bet, will begin to understand the passion and excitement behind competitive dancing, and why it may be The Next Big Thing. Most of all, the book was great fun to do, and I believe you'll sense my enjoyment on every page.
STATO: In Commercio
€ 19.50
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