Learn Ballet Terms, Steps and Exercises

Whether you're new to Ballet and want to learn everything about it, or you need help with ballet terms and techniques to improve your moves, or you're an advanced ballerina looking to start pointe, we have sourced the best ballet books, written by leading dance and ballet professionals to take you to the next level.

For beginners, practical advice about starting ballet for the first time such as what to expect in a ballet class and what to wear.

For advanced students, learn how to increase strength and flexibility, improve your technique and master tricky moves and positions.

Be inspired by the lives of professional ballet dancers and get inside information on how to prepare for auditions.

Just click on any image or link to view these books at Amazon.com Most of these books have many reviews you can read and also have a look inside the book to view some of the chapters to decide if it's the right book for you.

These books make ideal gifts for dancers! They will become a great reference to carry them through years of dance classes.

Ballerina: A Step-by-Step Guide to Ballet (Residents of the United States of America)

Shot at the English National Ballet School, the book introduces you to the world of ballet. Full of practical information, it is both helpful and inspiring. The book teaches the technical ballet terms in a fun and easy way that children will understand.
Accompanied with a dvd to practice the steps taught in the book, as well as 2 complete dances. From warm ups to preparing for stage and performing, including a glossary of ballet terms for reference, this book has everything your child needs to take her to the top of her ballet class!

The Ballet Companion: A Dancer’s Guide to the Technique, Traditions and Joys of Ballet

It covers ballet training from beginners who are just getting started; how to find a good ballet studio and teacher, to advanced ballet skills such as pointe and how to prepare for an audition. Extremely useful and practical advice on how to evaluate dance teachers or summer school programs, what to eat to stay slim and healthy, body esteem and how to tackle eating disorders, how to prevent injury and take care of your body.

There is a detailed section on other exercises to take such as pilates and yoga to strengthen and improve flexibility. Learn about musicality and performing in the theatre. Understand the rules to class etiquette and enjoy the insiders guide to dancers slang! The ballet companion details the major schools or methods of ballet, with descriptions of each. This book is equally directed for boys and girls. Gain a wonderful insight into the world of ballet, for students, and just as importantly parents, carers and anyone else with an interest in ballet. A valuable and informative resource.

The Ballet Book

This book takes you through all the stages of ballet class, from starting ballet, going to class, learning all the techniques and steps. It advances into stretching and strengthening and more exercises. Learn more about dancing en pointe and how to prepare for it with pointework. Read their tips on mime and makeup and how to prepare for a performance.

Most budding ballerinas love to read the profile of the life of a ballet dancer, finishing off with a glossary of ballet terms and all about going to watch a ballet. Written by Darcey Bussell, a world famous ballerina who studied and danced at the Royal Ballet School. She has danced with the New York City Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Australian Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet. She became the principal of the Royal Ballet School in 1989 and was awarded an OBE in 1995.

My First Ballet Book

Step by step instructions on basic ballet steps, moves and positions, the book is full of helpful advice from what to wear and what to expect in a class, how to dance with others and preparing for a performance. Learn about the famous ballets including a glossary of ballet terms. This book will give any budding ballerina and dancer confidence as they start their ballet class.

Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet

This book covers over 800 steps, movements and poses, with clear descriptions and definitions of the ballet terms.There is an extremely useful pronunciation guide for the French, Italian and Russian methods of ballet, including translations and cross references of names from one method of ballet to the other.

An ideal resource and reference book for those learning or improving their ballet terminology.

In the Wings: Behind the Scenes at the New York City Ballet

The photography is taken by Kyle Froman, who arrived at New York City Ballet well over a decade earlier as a young boy and grew up in the ballet company. He has studied, trained and performed with the world’s best ballet dancers. He has lived the life of a ballet dancer and knows all about the pain, exhaustion and the exhilaration, the emotional highs and the frustrating lows.

Kyle has been recording it all on his camera to share this world of ballet with the rest of us.
Along with a personal diary like commentary, covering the time when he first arrived to these days, when he didn’t think he would feel old so soon, he takes us on a frank, intimate and emotional journey backstage.

His unique perspective from behind the camera is entertaining and insightful. We’ve all been to see the ballet in a theatre and regaled at the glorious costumes and marvellous dancers who appear to effortlessly float across the stage. Now take a look behind the scenes with this beautiful color and black and white photography as it captures the rehearsals and therapy, the struggles to be ready for the performance, to continuously perfect their skills and their struggle to get through the season and still walk!

The Book of Ballet: Learning and Appreciating the Secrets of Dance

Spectacular photography captures the dancer’s elegance and grace beautifully. See the professional dancers as they prepare their shoes, in the studio, taking classes and stretching, as they rehearse and finally the performance, with their wonderful costumes.
Read the insights and comments from students, principal dancers through to the staff and administrators. Discusses what is involved in scheduling rehearsals plus technical and dress rehearsals with such a major ballet company.

This is not a book to learn all about ballet terms, the basics and techniques of ballet. But if you love ballet, and have seen the American Ballet Theater, you will find the behind the scenes insights and photographs of life as a ballet dancer both inspiring and delightful.

This book is more for a view into the world of the famous American Ballet Theater, rather than a guide to learn ballet.

The Dancer’s Way: The New York City Ballet Guide to Mind, Body and Nutrition

Dancers at a professional level have the same physical demands as world class athletes, as well as expressing an art form with effortless grace. They need strength, flexibility and energy to sustain hours of rehearsing, training and performing.

Written by Linda Hamilton, a former dancer with New York City Ballet, and a clinical psychologist, Linda, along with NYCB have developed the
New York City Ballet Wellness Program to deal with the physical demands of dancers.

Linda has created 5 keys to peak performance. Create good work habits, cross training for strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity, eat to stay fit and increase your energy and stamina, weight control strategies to avoid eating disorders, plus stress management techniques. It teaches dancers to be self aware and to understand their bodies, which is critically important to prevent injury. Also has a large section on useful resources.

This book is primarily geared towards female dance students aged 18 – 38 with special tips for youngsters. However, I believe it is extremely useful for advanced dancers at any age in their teens who are seriously interested in a career in dance, to learn and understand how to care for their bodies and to develop good habits from an early age.

Dance Anatomy (Sports Anatomy)

Improve your steps, positions and technique for better turnouts and arabesques. Learn proper breathing technique. See the relationship between the exercises and the dance position and how the muscles work in relation to the rest of the body.

Identify your weak areas and which muscles you need to strengthen and use their exercises to work on particular parts of the body. Understand the dancer’s body and muscular structure in action, with over 200 full color illustrations, showing you how to minimise muscle fatigue, stress and injury.

Follow their exercises to promote perfect alignment, proper breathing and to prevent common injuries. Highlights which muscles are used for each movement. Learn how to reduce muscle tension by modifying exercises for specific areas. Great guide for students and teachers alike

DK Eyewitness Books: Dance

This style of writing and presenting, as with all DK Eyewitness books, makes ideal reading for young children to take in and remember facts and information.
Interesting and useful information on topics such as what is dance, learning to dance, keeping time, beauty and strength, makeup, costumes and famous dances, finishing with a glossary of dance and ballet terms.This book is great for young children who are interested in dance.

Ballet (Ultimate Sticker Books)

If your child loves ballet, this is the ideal present or activity book for them. It will keep them amused and entertained for hours and foster their love of dance! They will learn about ballet and ballet terms while having fun!

Ballet Sticker book makes an ideal present for young dancers. Budding ballerinas will love the pictures of the ballet costumes!

Some more interesting Ballet books.

Beyond the Dance: A Ballerina’s Life	Basic Ballet: The Steps Defined

Choose one of these lovely Ballet bookmarks to give with a Ballet book!

Twelve Ballet Bookmarks	Russ Berrie ‘A Time to Dance’ Pink Bookmark	Twelve Degas Dancers Bookmarks

Return from Ballet Terms and Steps for more pages about Dance