the story of Ballet by Joan Lawson
the story of Ballet (Ward Lock Illustrated Ballet History in Dust Jacket)
A Dancer and Teacher's Illustrated Introduction to the History and Practice of Classical Ballet
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: the story of Ballet
- Author: Joan Lawson
- Publisher: Ward Lock, London
- Publication Date: 1976
- ISBN-10: 0706351711
- Edition Details: First published in Great Britain in 1976; reprinted 1977.
- Binding: Publisher's blue cloth boards, with the pictorial dust jacket lettered on the spine in blue and cream.
- Physical Format: Large, tall illustrated volume in quarto style.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Boards: The plain blue cloth boards beneath the jacket are clean, with slight darkening along the spine edge and at the corners. The pictorial dust jacket carries a colour photograph of two dancers on the front panel.
- Interior: The text block appears tight and sound. The text pages are clean and bright, with no foxing or markings.
- The Dust Jacket: Present. The pictorial jacket shows some creasing and surface scuffing to the front and back panels, including a visible crease along the top edge, but no clear tears. It is protected in a durable archival-type plastic cover.
Synopsis & Historical Value
The Story of Ballet, published in London by Ward Lock in 1976, is a general introduction to ballet as an art form. It is written for anyone curious about dance, whether as a career, a pastime or a spectacle.
Joan Lawson draws on her own working life as a dancer, teacher and historian. The book covers the history of ballet alongside the practical side of the art, and it is illustrated throughout.
This is a collectible used copy of a handsome illustrated ballet book, offered in its original pictorial dust jacket. It will appeal to those who collect dance literature and to readers who want a well-informed overview of the subject.
Author Profile: Joan Lawson
Joan Lawson (died 2002) was an English dancer, teacher and writer, born in London in 1906 or 1907. She directed the Royal Academy of Dance teachers' course from 1947 to 1959 and edited The Dancing Times from 1940 to 1954. From 1963 to 1971 she taught at the Royal Ballet School.
Her other books include Ballet in the U.S.S.R. (1945), Mime (1957), A History of Ballet and its Makers (1964), Beginning Ballet (1977) and Ballet Stories (1978).
Joan Lawson The Story of Ballet · history of ballet book · Ward Lock ballet 1976 · illustrated ballet book with dust jacket · Joan Lawson ballet author · vintage dance book
