Library of Clean Reads: Ballet Dance

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Dragons Don't Dance Ballet by Jennifer Carson (Book Review and Giveaway!)

A lovely picture book about perseverance in the pursuit of one's dream and about the power of friendship.

Book Details:

Book Title: Dragons Don't Dance Ballet by Jennifer Carson

Illustrated by: Eric Afuso
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Vinal Publishing
Release date: December 8, 2020
Tour dates: Jan 18 to Feb 5, 2021
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Esmeralda Dragon works the spotlight at the Metropolitan Ballet, but what she really wants to do is dance. Encouraged by her friend Harold to audition, Esmeralda takes a leap of faith only to discover that she doesn’t quite fit in with the other ballerinas. But Esmerelda isn’t ready to give up–and neither is Harold! Dragons Don’t Dance Ballet is a whimsical picture book that challenges body image expectations and encourages little ones to go for their dreams.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Dragons Don't Dance is a picture book about perseverance in the pursuit of one's dream. It's also a book about the power of friendship. Why are there no ballerina's that are heavier in weight yet who are just as graceful in dance? It's hard to break the stereotype of the very thin ballerina. This book shows that all body types can dance ballet if they really practice and set out to learn.

The book is well written and uses ballet terms throughout. It would have been useful and fun to have had a glossary in the front of the book for those readers who may not be that familiar with ballet expressions such as demi-plié, glissade and petite cabriole. I liked the watercolor illustrations. They were age-appropriate rendering Esmeralda the dragon lovely in all her towering height and body weight.

This picture book shines with the message that bigger children can be ballerinas too. It can help the child who lacks confidence and who does not believe they can be graceful in dance just because of their body size. Dancing is for all ages and sizes! And we cannot forget Harold, Esmeralda's friend who encouraged her, had faith in her and joined her in her dream. A lovely book about breaking stereotypes.

Buy the Book

Amazon.com

Dragon Charmer ~ B&N

add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Jennifer Carson lives in Michigan with her husband, four sons and many furry friends. She grew up on a steady diet of Muppet movies and Renaissance faires and would occasionally be caught reading under the blankets with a flashlight. Besides telling tales, Jennifer likes to create fantasy creatures and characters and publishes her own sewing patterns. Her artwork and patterns can be seen online at thedragoncharmer.com.

Jennifer's work has been featured in national magazines including: Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Faerie Magazine, Soft Dolls and Animals, Teddy Bear and Friends, and Dolls United.Jennifer's work has been featured in national magazines including: Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Faerie Magazine, Soft Dolls and Animals, Teddy Bear and Friends, and Dolls United.

Meet the Illustrator:

Hi, I'm Eric and I love to tell stories through my art. Even before I knew what a illustrator was, I can always remember having a pencil, paper, and plenty of imagination on hand to illustrate new adventures.

It is with much excitement and anticipation that I announce that two books I have illustrated will be published in the near future in 2020.

I previously worked as a graphic artist in the apparel industry creating numerous pieces of art and designs that were printed on top selling pieces of children's clothing sold through major retailers such as Walmart, Macy's, The Children's Place, and Target.

I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest near Seattle, Washington with my wife and two children.

Connect with the author:

website ~ facebook ~ goodreads

Connect with the Illustrator:

website

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Feb 12, 2021

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Saturday, May 13, 2017

With Ballet in My Soul: Adventures of a Globetrotting Impresario by Eva Maze (Review)

A life spanning close to 100 years is noteworthy, if only because of its longevity. The rich life of a woman committed to a professional vision ahead of its time, is truly remarkable. This is the story of such a woman.

Book Details:

Book Title: With Ballet in My Soul: Adventures of a Globetrotting Impresario by Eva Maze
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 200 pages
Genre: Biography & Memoir
Publisher: Moonstone Press LLC
Release date: April 1, 2017
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

A life spanning close to 100 years is noteworthy, if only because of its longevity. The rich life of a woman committed to a professional vision ahead of its time, filled with glamour, excitement and adventure, is truly remarkable. Narrated in her own words, this is the story of such a woman, Eva Maze, who, from the time she left Romania as a teenager in 1939, dreamed of being a ballet dancer, and through a series a circumstances, became instead one of the most successful theatrical impresarios in Europe – with a career spanning more than 40 years.

Now in her nineties, Maze looks back at the path and passion that led her from Bucharest to the United States as an immigrant, and then, as a married woman, back again to Europe and Asia, where she found her professional calling.

Set against key historical events of the 20th century, including the building of the Berlin Wall, the massacre at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, as well as the rise and fall of Pan American Airlines, Maze’s fascinating past is brought to life through a combination of serious commentary and amusing anecdotes about the risks and rewards of the business side of theater and dance, some of the personalities who were part of those worlds from the 1940s to the 1990s, her own motivation for being an impresario, and her personal life. Her narration is supported by more than 250 captivating historical and modern images going back to her birth in 1922.

Representing artists and companies abroad from a vast array of talent in the performing arts of the time – including The Alvin Ailey Dance Company, The Living Theatre, and The Swingle Singers – this unique woman became a prolific producer of close to 100 different types of theatrical programs from the world of dance, music, mime, cabaret, and drama.

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Add on Goodreads

My Review:

Reviewed by Sandra Olshaski

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful, 200-page coffee-table book that follows the exciting life of Eva Maze. Although she desired a ballet career, she found her real calling managing and touring talented dancers and artists, as an international impresario, at a time when it was dominated by men. She produced about 100 theatrical programs in various parts of the world, while moving with her husband from one country to another as he was transferred by Pan Am Airlines. A considerable feat for anyone and made even more so by also having two young children in tow.

This well-written memoir narrated by the author, as well as 250 historical and modern images brings to life Eva Maze's amazingly vibrant life (she's in her 90's) and career that spans the globe from Romania to India, to Germany to her beloved Paris, to name a few. How many people can say "so here we were on the dance floor in India, teaching Nepalese royalty how to dance a Brazilian samba."

Key historical events are mentioned and experienced by the author. She and her parents escaped anti-Semitism and the horrors of the Nazi regime by emigrating to America, thus avoided the fate of 300,000 other Romanian Jews who were deported to concentration camps. She saw the rise and fall of Pan Am Airlines, later absorbed into Delta Airlines. She lived through the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 that divided Germany into Communist and Democratic sectors and its destruction in 1989.

I wholeheartedly recommend this historical memoir. What an amazing collection of memories of a life lived to the full!

Sandra Olshaski's Disclosure: Thanks to Kelsey Butts of Book Publicity Services for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

About the Author:

Eva Maze is one of the most successful female theatrical impresarios in Europe with a career that lasted more than 40 years. She lives in Sarasota, Florida.