Basic Principles of Classical Ballet

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View books by A. Vaganova.

Vagovnova is the only one. - Rated
This is the method I teach, it's the only one worth bothering with. It's got all the exercises there and no fussy things like diets for your students. Just good plain hard fashioned work. I'm a personal friend of nearly everyone in the ballet world and everyone says this really is the only method to go with.

The 'bible' of the Soviet School. - Rated
This text book a marvellous encoding of Vaganova's methodology. The 'grammar', if you like, of the Soviet ballet style. A style, it would appear, from recent Kirov outings, long gone from St. Petersburg these days.

You can't teach from this book, as there was more to Vaganova and the Soviet style than can be encapsulated in a book. The whole framework of the school is there, but it does require a 'key' to unlock it, and that's only handed down from pupil to teacher. I mean, you're not going to read this book everyday for seven years and do class everyday and suddenly turn into Irina Kolpakova. [Kolpakova was Vaganova's last pupil.] Still less can you say: "I teach the Vaganova method" and walk into class with this book under your arm. But, alas, plenty of teachers in the US and the UK seemingly do. This book helps to illuminate your way if you already know where you are going.

But it's a minefield if you don't.

standard text by one of the greatest ballet pedagogues - Rated
The soviet system of ballet teaching was codified by her. This book outlines her basic ideas and is a standard text of the teaching system which bears her name and is in use today.