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Find out moreAre you a fan of Drama and the Performing Arts? Check out all our Drama / Performing Arts book selections, read reviews, download extracts and you can order the book too!
Discover the joy of dancing and the importance of family, whatever your culture, ability or style with Luna! When Luna dances, she feels like the world's volume turns up, like all colours brighten, like sunlight sparkles behind every cloud. But when she takes her dance exam she ducks, dives, spins and... falls. Luna thinks she can't be a real dancer now. Can Luna's family convince her otherwise?
‘Brielle’s Birthday Ball’ is a creative and interesting new take on a story that includes actions and movements to encourage young readers to join in with the characters. Created by Once Upon a Dance, the story follows Brielle as she celebrates her birthday. The illustrations in this book are lovely and detailed, and the instructions for the movements for each page are clearly separated from the storyline with a purple background and photos for dancing inspiration, there’s even some separate little songs to sing while doing the actions. I really liked the concept of this book and the time taken on every aspect. The inclusion of the actions doesn’t take away from the large and detailed illustrations or the simple to follow and enjoyable story. I would say that the creators have tried really hard to make sure that the inclusion of the additional interactive element isn’t done at the expense of any other aspect of the book. A story filled with delight and birthday fun, I think that this would be a brilliant book for any child that doesn’t want to sit still when listening to a story, or just loves to move and dance. It could also be read with out the movements for a pleasant birthday-themed bedtime story! Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
It’s time for the school play and two little people have their hearts set on starring roles. Little rabbit Olivia and young rhino Sam are both practising day and night and, sure enough, they get the best parts in ‘The Princess, the Knight and the Dragon’. Unfortunately, neither is happy. Olivia wanted to be the knight, not the princess, and playing the knight means that Sam won’t get to do any dancing. Fortunately, these two young performers are smart enough to work out ways to adapt their roles to suit their talents. Olivia and Sam are very endearing characters and their determination to be true to themselves will have all audiences applauding. A thoroughly entertaining picture book that delivers an important and empowering message.
'Dancing Shapes-Ballet and Body Awareness for Young Dancers' was created by Once Upon a Dance, a group formed during the Covid-19 lockdown by Konora and her mother to encourage youngsters stuck at home to join ballerina Konora on a journey of movement and dance for exercise and meditation. All profits from the sale of this book help support beleaguered ballet companies hit by the pandemic. The book is divided into four parts. The first is about Konora, her early interest in ballet through to her present status as a Professional Division student in the Pacific Northwest Ballet Company and is accompanied by many wonderfully colourful action photos. The ballerina reveals here that lockdown has freed her imagination, allowing her to appreciate that dance can take place anywhere and everywhere, not just in a formal performance space but that warming up is vitally important wherever you choose to dance. We are next taken through the five basic ballet positions in the second section, then in the third, entitled 'Thinking about Details', the reader is encouraged to think about what each part of the body is doing from the head to the toes, whilst copying the many shapes shown in silhouette in the following pages. Konora encourages the use of mirrors or a camera so the shapes can be compared to those in the book because 'self-observation and feedback are valuable parts of practice'. The final part,'Saying Thanks', is not only about the obvious thanks due to all those who support those involved in the arts but also the importance of thanking our bodies, through diet, sleep and safe choices, if we expect it to work hard for us...and believe me, ballet dancing is very hard work! I enjoyed this book very much, having had a lifelong interest in dance. I found it informative, practical and inspiring. Hopefully it will help to keep the spark alive in all our future performers until the world returns to some kind of normality. Drena Irish, A LoveReading Ambassador
A laugh-out-loud comical caper of friendship, true love and a completely disastrous school Shakespeare production from bestselling author Ross Montgomery. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+
With stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful people of the world. From designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world! Little People, Big Dreams series include: Ada Lovelace Agatha Christie Amelia Earhart Anne Frank Audrey Hepburn Coco Chanel Ella Fitzgerald Emmeline Pankhurst Frida Kahlo Georgia O’Keeffe Harriet Tubman Jane Austen Jane Goodall Josephine Baker Lucy Maud Montgomery Maria Montesorri Marie Curie Maya Angelou Mother Teresa Muhammed Ali Rosa Parks Simone de Beauvoir Stephen Hawking Vivienne Westwood We have a special category for the Little People, Big Dreams series. Click here to view them all.
The history of rock is chronicled through forty world-famous artists and groups in this stylishly designed and illustrated book. It begins with Elvis Presley, whirls through the psychedelic 60s and the protest songs of the 70s, then via glam rock and reggae takes us into the punk era, new wave and hip hop, leaving us with Beyoncé and Arcade Fire. It’s clearly a personal choice (Blur but not Oasis? And where are the queens of soul and disco?) but covers a huge range of styles and movements, and gives a real sense of the evolution of popular music. Each artist has a double page and they are represented via stylish, graphic illustrations accompanied by useful captions – dotted lines lead from Bob Dylan’s head to the words ‘Politically engaged’, while Elvis’s hips are labelled ‘provocative’. Fun, stylish and informative.
February 2018 Book of the Month | Hari lives in a biggish city in India with his sister and aunt. He’s always cheerful and enjoys helping support them all delivering tiffin boxes for the nearby take-away and running his own sweet-making business. He spends some of the proceeds on tickets to the cinema and particularly likes musicals. When he accidentally stumbles onto a real film set, his special talent is suddenly revealed: when Hari dances, everyone has to join in. It makes him a local celebrity then, with the help of his friend Mr Ram, Hari uses his gift to spread happiness further afield. The story is as tempting and delicious as Hari’s coconut barfi, and its engaging narrator will have readers almost convinced it’s a true story; the world would certainly be a better place if it was. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+.
Wannabe directors and thespians will love this fantastic box set filled with everything they need to put on a show. Expert tips and tricks for staging, costume, make-up and props, right the way though to sound and lighting will have them creating their own hit shows before long. Mixed together with lots of inspiration they'll have everything they need to create, direct and act in their own play. There is even a programme and tickets to colour in to advertise the big event. A brilliant gift for anyone who loves drama and storytelling. ~ Shelley Fallows - You can also find Shelley here.
Third hard-hitting book in the hit Rock War series about a Battle of the Bands showdown, by the bestselling author of CHERUB. Rock Wars is now at the halfway mark and only six bands remain. After “near financial collapse” following the contestants' “outrageous behaviour” and subsequent withdrawal of a sponsor, the show now has a brand new backer and has “risen Phoenix-like to become the most watched reality show on British telly”. But there's plenty of music to face offstage as well as on. With one foot still in the school of hard knocks, and the other in hard rock heaven, singer Summer has to get herself back on track after being hit by a motorbike. And cocky Theo’s spending more time mixing with (and winding up) moviemakers at film premieres, and Premier League players at nightclubs than at the mixing desk. And then there’s the shady matter of an undercover investigation, which just goes to show that ambition and fame comes at a cost. With its heady mix of glamour and grit, and a cast of characters who run the gamut from smart, self-aware cynics to easily led-astrays, this is a seriously addictive read. Put on your finest threads and dive into the mosh pit of a plot that has more pace than a speed metal B-side!
In a Nutshell: Battles | Humour | Music | Third hard-hitting book in the hit Rock War series about a Battle of the Bands showdown, by the bestselling author of CHERUB. Rock Wars is now at the halfway mark and only six bands remain. After “near financial collapse” following the contestants' “outrageous behaviour” and subsequent withdrawal of a sponsor, the show now has a brand new backer and has “risen Phoenix-like to become the most watched reality show on British telly”. But there's plenty of music to face offstage as well as on. With one foot still in the school of hard knocks, and the other in hard rock heaven, singer Summer has to get herself back on track after being hit by a motorbike. And cocky Theo’s spending more time mixing with (and winding up) moviemakers at film premieres, and Premier League players at nightclubs than at the mixing desk. And then there’s the shady matter of an undercover investigation, which just goes to show that ambition and fame comes at a cost. With its heady mix of glamour and grit, and a cast of characters who run the gamut from smart, self-aware cynics to easily led-astrays, this is a seriously addictive read. Put on your finest threads and dive into the mosh pit of a plot that has more pace than a speed metal B-side! ~ Joanne Owen
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Year 2015 - November 2015 Book of the Month Bravo for this brilliant and inspiring book! It takes lots of different people with lots of different skills to put on a play, and in this book the team at the National Theatre explain just how it’s done: from script to opening night, taking in rehearsals, set making, make-up, lighting, sound and music, and more, they explain how their different roles and the work they do combine to create a magical theatrical experience. There’s a huge amount of information packed in, with quotes and comments from the professionals involved, technical information, stats and facts, and tips for you to try at home. By the end readers will have a really good understanding of theatre and no doubt a burning desire to see more shows and to put on plays themselves. ~ Andrea Reece Also chosen by Andrea Reece as one of her Top Picks of 2015.
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