Celestial Bodies: How to Look at Ballet [Hardcover]

A distinguished dance critic offers an enchanting introduction to the art of ballet

As much as we may enjoySwan LakeorThe Nutcracker, for many of us ballet is a foreign language. It communicates through movement, not words, and its history lies almost entirely abroad--in Russia, Italy, and France. InCelestial Bodies, dance critic Laura Jacobs makes the foreign familiar, providing a lively, poetic, and uniquely accessible introduction to the world of classical dance. Combining history, interviews with dancers, technical definitions, descriptions of performances, and personal stories, Jacobs offers an intimate and passionate guide to watching ballet and understanding the central elements of choreography.

Beautifully written and elegantly illustrated with original drawings,Celestial Bodiesis essential reading for all lovers of this magnificent art form.


Laura Jacobsis a contributing editor atVanity Fairand the dance critic for theNew Criterion, where she has been since 1994. Dubbed our best dance critic by the editor ofBallet Review, Jacobs has also written about dance for theAtlantic,Chicago Reader, andLondon Review of Books. She lives in New York City.

Jacobs's book opens the door, offering a meticulous introduction to the art form and welcoming readers to have a seat and stay a while.... It's from this insider's perspective that Jacobs is able to offer an all-encompassing guided tour behind the curtain, then circling back to the auditorium where the balletomane, the occasional fan and the newcomer sit side by side as they interpret the performance according to their individual experiences and beliefs.

Misty Copeland,New York Times Book Review
A lively guide, for the newcomer and enthusiast alike, to an art form that is meticulously controlled yet ever-changing. Wall Street Journal
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