Tutus, Tights and Tiptoes: Ballet History as It Ought to Be Taught

In his latest book, Tutus, Tights and Tiptoes, popular music historian and humorist David W. Barber casts a wicked, witty and insightful eye at the history of ballet from its earliest beginnings in the French court to its later heights in such classics as Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' and 'Swan Lake' and more recent scandals such as the premiere of Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring,' which shocked audiences and caused a riot in the seats. Although ballet is the main focus, the author also touches on other forms of dance, from Morris dancing to modern jazz dancing (but he'll probably refrain from saying much if anything about country-and-western line dancing because, well, the less said the better).

And who better than David Barber to serve as your musical guide to the world of all this jumping around? His seven previous books of musical humor -- including the hugely popular Bach, Beethoven and the Boys and the recent Tenors, Tantrums and Trills and Better Than It Sounds -- have sold more than a quarter of a million copies worldwide and have made him a household name in musical circles to join the ranks of Gerard Hoffnung, Anna Russell and P.D.Q. Bach. Barber's witty yet informative approach to music history and musical terminology has helped take the stuffing out of the stuffed shirts of the classical music world.