Laurel van der Linde's first career was as a ballet dancer. Trading her pointe shoes for character pumps, she segued into Broadway musical theater, dancing in A Chorus Line, Annie, My Fair Lady, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She also worked with legendary choreographers Gower Champion and Michael Kidd. Moving behind the scenes, van der Linde began her work in sound as a director/producer of audiobooks, working for such publishing houses as Hachette, BBC AA, Brilliance Audion, and Full Cast Audio, and she is the director of the voiceover school at the Famous Radio Ranch in Los Angeles. She is also an instructor of creative writing for children at UCLA and has published four books for kids. She has two sons, Gower and Gavin, and breeds and trains Arabian horses on her ranch in Valencia, California.
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 "May 2015"
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