While there has been a pause on ballet history on the blog, never fear- it will be returning after my summer hiatus! (Ballet history is tough because there are not a lot of images or videos that you can use and it is obviously a visual medium.) However, as I know that many of you are like me and use the summer for even more reading than normal, I wanted to give you some ballet options for your reading list. Whether you prefer fiction or non-fiction, I’ve got books for you! This is my full ballet reading list!
Full Ballet Reading List
The world of ballet is fascinating and complex and sets the stage perfectly for dramatic stories, both fictional and non-fictional. (You see what I did there?) Some of my favourite books are about ballet, and I truly believe that most of them are completely accessible to anyone, no matter how much or little knowledge you have. (We all have to start somewhere!)
The Best Historical Fiction Books About Ballet
If you prefer your books and stories fictional, I would highly recommend looking at my historical fiction recommendations! They span several centuries and countries, and some feature very well-known figures in the history of ballet. If you want high drama, these are absolutely the books for you!
The Best Ballet History Books
Now, if you prefer to focus on the historical side of things, there are several fantastic books for you to choose from. Apollo’s Angels is the “big one”; however, reading specific company histories can also offer a great deal of insight into ballet as a whole. (It also can feel far more manageable.) I’ve also got books that cover the technical side of ballet and how it evolved to what we see now, if you like to parse out what you see on stage.
The Best Ballet Biographies and Memoirs
Finally, if your real preference is the stories of the people behind ballet, these are my favourite ballet biographies and memoirs. There is quite a range in quality, tone, and detail in memoirs (in any area), and I’ve read more than I care to admit. These are the biographies that I recommend time and time again, especially Margot Fonteyn. (I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve read it multiple times, as well as watched the accompanying documentary.)
While this is a book list, I thought I would include my favourite documentaries in case you feel like sitting down to watch something instead of reading!
What history books are on your summer reading list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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