These items will aide in dance education and instruction.
| Books for Students |
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Dance!
Elisha Cooper
Greenwillow Books, 2001
In richly descriptive text and whimsical figure drawings, Cooper gives us an inside look at a dance company preparing for a performance. This is a great introduction to life in a professional company and is highly recommended for students coming to a Behind-the-Scenes Field Trip. |
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Ailey Spirit: The Journey of an American Dance Company
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Text by Robert Tracy
Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2004
Ailey Spirit pauses to reflect on the company’s incredible journey as it nears its mid-century mark. An eye-opening array of photographs from the best dance photographers illuminates the performances and artistic creations of every decade; the dancers and choreographers; the travels and challenges; and the creation of new work. |
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Eyewitness Dance
Dr. Andree Grau
DK Publishing, 2005
This book, part of the popular “Eyewitness” series, introduces various dance forms from around the world along with traditional western concert dance forms such as ballet, modern, and musical theatre. It provides many colorful photographs and captions, but can be dense and is recommended for upper elementary readers |
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Attitude! Eight Young Dancers Come of Age at The Ailey School
Katherine Davis Fishman
Tarcher, 2004
The “Supremes” have it. Three girls, nicknamed by their peers after the famous trio of singers, are among the eight teenagers whose lives are profiled in this new book. |
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Savion: My Life in Tap
Savion Glover and Bruce Weber,
Foreword by Gregory Hines
William Morrow, New York, 2000
An autobiographical scrapbook of young tap dancer Savion Glover. This book is great for independent reading in upper grades, while sections can be read aloud to younger students. |
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A Moving Experience: Dance for Lovers of Children and the Child Within
and
More Moving Experiences: Connecting Arts, Feelings, and Imagination
Teresa Benzwie
Zephyr Press
Available at www.zephyrpress.com
Provides a collection of creative movement exercises to integrate with elementary curriculum. |
| Books & CDs for Teachers |
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The Black Tradition in American Dance
Richard A. Long
Rizzoli, 1989
This book shows how the varied contributions of many talented and persevering men and women have put Black dance and dancers in the spotlight. It traces all the strands, motifs and fashions in Afro-American dance from the early minstrels, through the dance-dramas of Isadata Dafora, to the thriving dance companies of today. |
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Interdisciplinary Learning Through Dance : 101 MOVEntures
Lynnette Y. Overby, Beth C. Post, Diane Newman
Human Kinetics, 2005
Provides 101 field-tested lesson plans for integrating movement with language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. Appropriate for K-5 classrooms, the book also comes with a music CD and DVD of selected lessons in action. |
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Balanchine: Celebrating a Life in Dance
Costas
Tide-Mark Press, 2003
This is a tribute to twentieth-century ballet’s most influential choreographer. Even before founding the New York City Ballet with Lincoln Kirstein, George Balanchine had achieved international recognition as a dance innovator. This book explores fifty of the choreographer’s greatest works, accompanied by full-color and black-and-white photos. |
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The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life
Twyla Tharp
Simon & Schuster, 2003
All it takes to make creativity a part of your life is the willingness to make it a habit. It is the product of preparation and effort, and is within reach of everyone. The Creative Habit provides you with 32 practical exercises based on the lessons Twyla Tharp has learned in her remarkable 35-year career. |
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Movin’ Up: Percussion Grooves for Dance
Beverly Botsford. Bfree Music, 1999.
North Carolina-based percussionist offers a wonderful mix of percussion for dance, and includes several selections in uneven meters.
Order from sgardprod.com/movinup.htm |
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Music for Creative Dance: Contrast & Continuum Volumes I-IV
Eric Chappelle. Ravenna Ventures, 1993.
The volumes include a wide variety of instrumental music selections in various meters. Each CD includes liner notes with creative dance ideas by Anne Green Gilbert.
Order from ravennaventures.com where you can also listen to clips from the albums. |
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My Way: The Best of Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra. Wea International, 2000.
Highlights of this two CD set include ‘My Way,’ ‘New York, New York,’ ‘Somethin’ Stupid,’ ‘Come Fly with Me,’ and many more. Available at amazon.com. |
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Essential George Gershwin
George Gershwin. Sony, 2003.
Gershwin has a seemingly effortless ability to meld jazz and gospel with his own rare melodic gifts. Included on this CD set are ‘I Got Rhythm,’ ‘Love Walked In/Embraceable You,’ and ‘Summertime.’ Available at amazon.com. |
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Three Suites
Duke Ellington. Sony, 1990.
Listen to Duke Ellington’s version of the ‘Nutcracker Suite’ on this CD. Available at amazon.com. |
