Comments on: Where did “Dance” go?

by: Gwenny

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:52:23 +0000

Miracles of miracles! I found ONE dance book in a section labeled “DANCE” at Barnes and Nobles! The rest were about pop music. “The Ballet Book” features ABT dancers, and is nice and thick and full of pictures! I snapped it up, as it was my birthday, and spent an afternoon in ballet land. Fabulous!

by: tonya

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:41:36 +0000

Thanks Rob! Next time I’m in the bookstore I’ll have to check out the opera section to see what kind of books they’ve got. They never seem to be lacking for space. I really wish ABT wasn’t charging that much for their new book. In this economy, very few have that kind of money for such things…

by: Zara

Thu, 15 May 2008 04:44:06 +0000

That’s L.A. for ya, Susan. I think you’d do better at a bookstore back East. I suggest New Haven’s bookstores.

by: Zoe

Wed, 14 May 2008 23:06:27 +0000

I agree with Rob

by: Rob

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:14:11 +0000

It’s mainly an issue of what’s being put out there in the book market. Other then the occassional biography, you see the same stuff over and over and over(Balachine bio, how to do ballet, etc). Believe me, I tried to buff up the dance section at my old store when I was in charge of it, but there is nothing to buff it up with. A lot of the books are very old, out-of-print, or just too pricey for your everyday buyer. What really needs to happen is a focused effort to get current and affordable(Not the 50 Years of ABT for $100.00 type of specialty book) dance books out.

by: Jim Clyne

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:45:58 +0000

one of the best photography books ever publishes was legendary art director/photographer alexey brodovitch’s 1945 “ballet,” which are creative depictions of the ballets russes de monte carlo. if you have the money, i highly suggest you purchase it–for artistic and investment purposes

i’m currently editing a photography book, entitled “exquisite creatures” which features some of the world’s greatest dancers and photographers, including Alvin Booth, Andrew Polushkin and Euro Rotelli.

by: Zoe

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:11:05 +0000

Have you ever tryed to find a dance magazine? At a Books a Million I searched everywhere for one I don’t have a subscription for - finally found it - under “Mens Fitness” Usually at B& N it’s under music. Interesting, it is hard to find any dance books in the stores, a shame.

by: tonya

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:47:25 +0000

Do you guys have any idea why this declining interest in dance when dance is so popular on television right now? I agree, Susan, dance sections in bookstores are dwindling. My local Borders just deleted theirs — it’s now housed with music. The only decent one is at the Lincoln Center B&N, where dance has three whole bookshelves, although the Opera section is slowly beginning to encroach on that space. I truly don’t get it…

by: Gwenny

Wed, 14 May 2008 09:27:18 +0000

Back in the day, there was dance everywhere…magazines, PBS, network television. I always headed for the arts section of the bookstore whenever I got some money. Now I go in and there is nothing on dance, not even an biography or autobiography relating to dance. It’s even hard to find dance books online that aren’t imports or very expensive. Sigh…dance used to be everywhere…

by: Jim Clyne

Tue, 13 May 2008 21:34:49 +0000

Susan

do not despair. checking my notes, i find the the great Homer included dance on the 8th ring of Achilles’ shield