Ballet-fit Workout: Develop Strength, Control, Flexibility, Grace

Not everyone can have the body of a dancer, but the program in Ballet-Fit Workout shows how to achieve many of dancers' desirable physical attributes: a strong, flexible spine; a toned, stable midsection; shapely, defined muscles; and sleek, graceful posture.

Written for people with no formal ballet training, this book uses clear, jargon-free explanations and detailed photos to teach the fitness techniques utilized by world-class dancers. Optimal health is the focus throughout Ballet-Fit Workout, and the author shows how classic dance training not only reshapes the body but also teaches mental focus and leads to a calm, refreshed mind.

Noelle Shader was a dancer with the New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine from 1976 to 1981. She then went on to teach as a dance lecturer at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts until 1984 when she assumed the position of Ballet Mistress with the West Australian Ballet Company. She next danced with the Australian Ballet from 1989 to 1995 then returned to teaching at Victorian College of the Arts. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.