Nutcracker Dancing Shapes

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Loved it! 😍

This natural extension of the Dancing Shapes series is a delight for ballet dancers who love The Nutcracker story.

Perhaps one of the most iconic performances of the holiday season is The Nutcracker, a story told through dance by both amateur and professional dance companies alike. In this third installment of the Dancing Shapes series, readers get a backstage tour of many of the twenty-five Nutcracker roles ballerina Konora has played throughout her life.

Like the other books in this series, Konora is featured throughout the book in both the narrative and in the abundance of photographic images. While most of the pictures are of Konora in costume, a few have her backlit as she is demonstrating certain shapes for the reader. These pictures are inspiring to dancers of all ages, especially because each pose can be studied and mirrored with practice.

A table of contents at the beginning of the book gives readers an idea of what to expect and helps them navigate to the sections that are of the most interest to them. This book includes more of a narrative than the others in the series, but there are invitations for the reader to interact, as well. In addition to a warm-up like those found in the other Dancing Shapes books, Konora includes an entire section devoted to The Nutcracker story and the many variations found in performances across the United States. Even readers familiar with The Nutcracker will learn something new!

As in the other books in this series, the storytelling in this book speaks directly to the reader. Invitations to participate are found alongside commentary about Konora’s dancing experience, all of which encourage dancers to work hard and keep trying even when challenges arise. Because of the amount of text, this book is best read by a confident older child or adult caregiver. A small glossary of terms at the end of the book assists with pronunciation of some of the French words and phrases used in the story.

This book is a natural extension of the Dancing Shapes series and builds upon the skills learned in the first two installments. Fans of Konora and her teaching style will love adding this story to their shelves.

-Mary Lanni, Reedsy