So, You Want to Be a Dancer?: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Dance Industry (Be What You Want)

Praise for So, You Want to Be a Dancer?: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Dance Industry (Be What You Want)

From ballet to Broadway and from Hollywood to hip-hop: a how-to.Brief histories of different dance forms are interspersed with frequent boxed highlights, sidebars, and profiles of current and former members of the dance world. Van der Linde begins by stating her belief that "[e]arly people did not consider dance as entertainment but as an essential form of expression." Dance as religious ritual in India, Japan and Thailand receives mention as does dance as court entertainment in France and in Italy. She moves on to the realms of ballet, Broadway and Hollywood musicals, contemporary dance, sports dance squads, college programs, and related careers in costume design, dance therapy and photography. She even encourages couch potatoes to try social dancing. Librarians should note that some of the activities, such as a word search and matching ballet scores with the composer, are write-ins. The book is copiously illustrated with line drawings, although curiously, only text is used to describe the five ballet foot positions and hip-hop steps. Readers may well feel the absence of diagrams. Teens interested in any and all aspects of a career in dance will find useful and entertaining information here.
— Kirkus Reviews

In this addition to this career-minded series, van der Linde takes readers inside the dance industry with history, advice, interviews, and plenty of encouragement. The author acknowledges that not everyone is destined for a career as a performer and accordingly describes a variety of jobs that also require a background in dance, such as choreographer and costume designer. Interspersed throughout are interviews with professional and aspiring dancers. Although some are more illuminating than others, van der Linde’s profiles feature diverse individuals. Starting with the origins of dance, the author chronicles the development of court dance into ballet and then ballet into contemporary dance. In addition to the evolution of the art form in American musical theater, van der Linde covers the emergence of hip-hop and its role in the contemporary dance world. Overall, she emphasizes ballet as the essential foundation for all dance training, making this book ideal for those who are already in preprofessional programs or who are talented enough to pursue enrollment in one. The book emphasizes having a body-positive attitude and includes tips on staying healthy. The text boxes, interviews, and activities make this an easily digestible book, ideal for browsers or those willing to read it cover to cover. Extensive back matter includes resource lists of books, documentaries, and, most importantly, dance companies with youth programs. VERDICT An ideal offering for those who need that extra push and some practical advice to make their dreams a reality.–Joy Piedmont, LREI, New York City
— School Library Journal