Salsa as a universal language, 25 Aug 2008
I heard this book on Radio 4 and as a keen salsa addict, I immediately got hold of a copy. I'd like to go on a salsa holiday, and this book explained what the 'scene' is like in half-a-dozen Latin American cities

Lindop went on his own. It's really hard to turn up at bars and dance among people you've never met before. But he made contacts and organised enough lessons to get a feel for the places and people. His prose is poetic and rich, I enjoyed reading it in short bursts. There is lots of insight into the great pleasure that salsa gives: the music, the women and the movement. It works as a travelogue, and as a book about dance. You also learn a few things about an Englishman of a certain age.

I'm not sure what someone who had never danced salsa would make of it. Goethe used to say that love poetry had a reinforcing effect. Reading the poetry improved the appreciation of the lovemaking, and lovemaking gave a greater sense of the quality of of the poetry. For salsa addicts, it's very much the effect of this book!

Salsa as a universal language, 25 Aug 2008
I heard this book on Radio 4 and as a keen salsa addict, I immediately got hold of a copy. I'd like to go on a salsa holiday, and this book explained what the 'scene' is like in half-a-dozen Latin American cities

Lindop went on his own. It's really hard to turn up at bars and dance among people you've never met before. But he made contacts and organised enough lessons to get a feel for the places and people. His prose is poetic and rich, I enjoyed reading it in short bursts. There is lots of insight into the great pleasure that salsa gives: the music, the women and the movement. It works as a travelogue, and as a book about dance. You also learn a few things about an Englishman of a certain age.

I'm not sure what someone who had never danced salsa would make of it. Goethe used to say that love poetry had a reinforcing effect. Reading the poetry improved the appreciation of the lovemaking, and lovemaking gave a greater sense of the quality of of the poetry. For salsa addicts, it's very much the effect of this book!

Could be better., 26 Feb 2008
This book has a few good games which have been useful to me. You can tell the book is a few years old some of the games could not be played now due to health and saftey laws within class.

Personaly don't think it is worth a tenner.

Starting Ballet is an information-packed book that is perfect for children interested in dance generally and ballet specifically. Colourful illustrations and photographs, and simple, clear text, take readers through the basic ballet steps, and photographs of professional dancers helps to inspire and coach.

Educationally, Starting Ballet can also be used for home learning, to support Key Stage One English reading skills. The book is a great way of encouraging youngsters who are interested in dance and ballet to read different kinds of books, such as information books, therefore increasing their interest in reading generally. It may also help reluctant readers, by attracting them to the subject matter, rather than the activity of reading. (5 to 11 years) --Amanda York

Salsa as a universal language, 25 Aug 2008
I heard this book on Radio 4 and as a keen salsa addict, I immediately got hold of a copy. I'd like to go on a salsa holiday, and this book explained what the 'scene' is like in half-a-dozen Latin American cities

Lindop went on his own. It's really hard to turn up at bars and dance among people you've never met before. But he made contacts and organised enough lessons to get a feel for the places and people. His prose is poetic and rich, I enjoyed reading it in short bursts. There is lots of insight into the great pleasure that salsa gives: the music, the women and the movement. It works as a travelogue, and as a book about dance. You also learn a few things about an Englishman of a certain age.

I'm not sure what someone who had never danced salsa would make of it. Goethe used to say that love poetry had a reinforcing effect. Reading the poetry improved the appreciation of the lovemaking, and lovemaking gave a greater sense of the quality of of the poetry. For salsa addicts, it's very much the effect of this book!

Could be better., 26 Feb 2008
This book has a few good games which have been useful to me. You can tell the book is a few years old some of the games could not be played now due to health and saftey laws within class.

Personaly don't think it is worth a tenner.

Little girls will love this; mums and dads may be disappointed., 01 Jan 2007
This is a terrific concept. The book comes with a CD featuring many well-known ballet tunes and provides dance steps for the first few tracks. Any budding ballerina will love this. However, musicians beware ... the entire CD is synthisized sound ... no real orchestras playing here. Our four-year-old dancer doesn't mind, but mum and dad cringe every time we hear clumsy computerized timbres having a go at delightful ballet music. Another gripe is that there is no place to store the CD once it is taken out of the book for the first time ... no helpful plastic flap, no detachable paper sleeve, nothing but two circular stickers to hold it in place. Hmmmm....