Library News - Summer 2005

New Teaching Qualifications
Way back in the Summer edition of DANCE 2002, I was asking Faculty members for suggestions of books, videos, etc, to add to the information already available in the Library, covering their special disciplines. So far no one has volunteered! I suppose I should take this as a compliment to the existing library service, but judging by the increasing number of calls received, and time consuming searches, we still have a long way to go on coverage and quick access. Many of the calls come from members who have been teaching successfully for many years and now find themselves needing to update their knowledge if they are to continue to prepare and enter candidates in the future.

The most daunting aspect of this development, for some, seems to be the submission of a written assignment. School essays are long past, texting and emails have taken over from letter writing, and access to suitable sources of information locally are scarce or non-existent. Where do you start? Until now, anyone, but anyone, could set up a dance class or school of dance, and in the past, much damage was inflicted on young dancers by teachers who had a great love of dance, but no knowledge of anatomy, physiology, child development, first aid or health and safety.

Awareness of all these, linked to physical education in any form, seems to me to be essential areas of knowledge for the safety of children. This, combined with the added understanding of the history and artistic background of the discipline being taught, opens so many exciting doors, and makes for far greater enjoyment for both teacher and pupil.

In the end, our teachers, who hold the Certificate in Dance Education, will be recognized as having similar qualifications to other professional bodies, and this surely is a great step forward for our dance profession, with so many more opportunities open to our younger members, who will be welcomed as equals in the teaching profession.

So where do you start with this written assignment?
• Choose a subject that you findinteresting
• Contact the ISTD Library if information is scarce
• Use the internet as a research tool
• Contact a tutor for guidance

There is a great deal of help available and once you have started, 2000 to 2500 words will be a simple matter, and I am sure you will really enjoy the achievement.

The Education and Training Department at ISTD HQ is here to answer questions and give advice - do call.

Latest Acquisitions
Mastro da Ballo 1614
E.S. Perugino 2004
‘We have in front of us a new ancient handwritten document that re- surfaced suddenly and dramatically after centuries in the obscurity of a Roman Palace’. Foreword by Bengt Häger and Historical Introduction by Barbara Sparti.

The Minuet in the late 18th Century
M. Inglehearn 1998
A reprint of S.J. Gardiner’s ‘A Dancing Master’s Instruction Book of 1786’, with information on the author and some of the more illustrious people with whom he came into contact.

Degas and the Dance
J. De Vonyar and R. Kendall 2003
In this beautiful book, the artist and his work is placed against
the backdrop of the Paris Opera. Richly illustrated and expertly researched and written.

Indian Theatre and Dance Traditions
S. Narayan 2004
Providing an insight into the multi dimensional theatrical traditions of India, including drama, dance, music, folk and classical, with sections on puppetry, martial arts and the tradition of masks.

The Spirit’s Dance in Africa
Jomo Kenyata 1964
‘Dance is the mirror of our life and beyond. It reflects our links to the spirit, our dialogue with the past and our present feelings and thoughts’. A wealth of information on dances from this vast continent, with many illustrations.

Stravinsky and Balanchine
C.M. Joseph 2002
A full-length study of one of the greatest artistic collaborations in history, and will be of great interest, not only to music and dance historians, but also to ballet lovers everywhere.

The Verdi Ballets
K.A. Jürgensen 1995
This is a study whose depth of research allows us, at last, to view Verdi’s ballets in their true historical context. A handbook for every choreographer who aspires to exercise his talents in this field.

Second Hand Book Sale
There are still some very useful editions in our sale by Mary Clarke, Agnes de Mille, Ivor Guest, Arnold Haskell, Lincoln Kirstein and Katherine Sorley Walker. A complete list of all books still available can be requested from the Library.

Many of the new books coming into the Library are priced at ?30 – ?50 each - so our sale stock is a real bargain hunt!

Donations
One of our latest donations is a programme from the Arts Theatre Club dated December 1930, with a star studded cast and wonderful photos - more about this in the next Library News.

Have a good summer, and I hope to see many visitors in the vacation.

Mollie Webb FISTD ARAD

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