Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story

Jessica Teague is co-author of Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story, published in 2018 by DK Random House.

This DK visual guide to ballet history goes beyond other ballet books, with beautiful photography that captures famous dancers and key stories.

Discover more than 70 of the most famous ballet dances, from The Nutcracker and Swan Lake to The Rite of Spring. Learn the stories behind renowned companies such as The Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet. Explore the lives and achievements of dancers across the centuries, such as Margot Fonteyn, Carlos Acosta, and Darcey Bussell. Meet composers and choreographers, from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to Matthew Bourne.

From its origins at court and the first national ballet companies, to the contemporary scene and extraordinary venues that stage the productions, this book covers an impressive history of ballet and provides an invaluable overview of the subject. Filled with rarely seen photographs covering all the key figures, pieces, and performances, and compelling facts about each dance – the sources they draw from, their production history, and their reception over time – Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story is an essential gift for all ballet enthusiasts.

Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story
Hardcover: 360 pages
Publisher: DK (September 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0241302315
ISBN-13: 978-0241302316
Product Dimensions: 25.8 x 2.9 x 30.4 cm

Jessica Teague. As a professional ballet dancer for 16 years, Jessica Teague has spent most of her dance career in Europe working with the Dutch National Ballet in the Netherlands, the Gothenburg Ballet in Sweden and the Royal Ballet of Flanders in Belgium. Jessica received her first professional job a the age of 17 with the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle Washington after completing her training with the Boston Ballet and the School of American Ballet in New York.

Jessica has performed a wide variety of classical, neo-classical and contemporary repertoire and toured extensively around the world to prestigious dance festivals and venues in over fifty cities (see dance portfolio for photos and videos). She feels privileged to have worked personally with many of today’s leading choreographers including Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Hans van Manen, Rudi van Dantzig, Krzysztof Pastor, David Dawson, Christopher Wheeldon, Christian Spuck and Wayne McGregor.

Jessica holds a MA in Cultural Policy and Management from City University London, and a BA in Art History and Criticism from The British Open University. In 2014 Jessica began working for Dance Europe Magazine and is a regular contributor to numerous other international dance publications. Jessica has an immense respect for the dance profession and finds inspiration in the variety of opportunities and ideas both classical and modern dance present to the art world of today. www.jessicateague.com.