Ballet spectacular A young ballet lover's guide and an insight into a magical world

The logo of the Royal Ballet on the jacket adds a regal touch to this large, colorful, handsomely produced volume. Combining aspects of a coffee-table book and an introductory handbook, it provides a hodgepodge of basic information about ballet history, famous ballets, life in a major company, and the elements involved in a performance, such as choreography, music, sets, and costumes, while Britain's Royal Ballet Company and School are referenced throughout the book. The double-page spreads are of two types. The first simply features a large, beautifully lit photo from a ballet production, while the second packs in a number of small photos and paragraphs of information, usually with a sidebar on a related topic. The sidebars are sometimes written by the individuals profiled, such as Lauren Cuthbertson's personal account of recovering from injury, featured on the Dancers' Fitness spread. The lack of an index will not deter browsers, who are the main audience. Ballet-minded readers will enjoy many of the photos, facts, and first-person narratives here.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2014 Booklist