Vaganova technique is one of the few codified ballet techniques in existence. Willis-Aarnio (Texas Tech Univ.) discovered Vaganova's pedagogy in the early 1970s and since then has worked hard to preserve and transmit the teaching method. With the publication of this massive book, the ballet world finally has a scholarly work describing the teaching method.

The author looks at how Vaganova took huge amounts of information, distilled it to its essence, and then organized the material into a rational method that could be consistently and accurately taught. Willis-Aarnio also captures the passion characteristic of the Russian people. She provides Russian documentation, translated into English for the first time, showing some of the connections between many of the significant people in the world of dance at that time. From Pavlova, Nijinsky, and Balanchine, who were members of the Imperial Theatre during Vaganova's performing career, to Ulanova, who was one of her pupils, Vaganova's influence can be easily seen and felt. This reviewer found the appendixes especially illuminating--e.g., "Ballet Timeline" and "Classical Ballet Lineage."

Summing Up: Highly recommended for all collections supporting the study and performance of classical ballet. (San Diego Technical Books. Copyright 2003 American Library Association.)