--- product_id: 362466 title: "Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet" price: "฿1722" currency: THB in_stock: true reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/362466-apollos-angels-a-history-of-ballet store_origin: TH region: Thailand --- # Cultural Impact Comprehensive History Ballet Evolution Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet **Price:** ฿1722 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🩰 Dance Through Time with Apollo's Angels! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet - **How much does it cost?** ฿1722 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.th](https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/362466-apollos-angels-a-history-of-ballet) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Visual Splendor:** Features stunning illustrations and photographs that bring the ballet world to life. - • **Engaging Narratives:** Enjoy captivating stories of iconic dancers and choreographers that shaped the art form. - • **Uncover Cultural Significance:** Discover how ballet has influenced and been influenced by various cultures. - • **Dive into Ballet's Rich Legacy:** Explore the intricate history of ballet from its origins to modern interpretations. - • **Perfect for Enthusiasts and Scholars:** A must-have for anyone passionate about dance, history, or the arts. ## Overview Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet by Random House Trade offers an in-depth exploration of ballet's evolution, highlighting its cultural significance and the stories of the artists who have shaped this timeless art form. ## Description Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet [Homans, Jennifer] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet Review: Fantastic cultural history of classical ballet!!! - Apollo’s Angels by Jennifer Homans is a major one-volume cultural history of classical ballet. Homans takes the reader from ballet’s origin in the French Renaissance through to our own time, covering in detail the development of the art form and its evolution as it passed through 16th century France and Italy, to Denmark, Britain, Russia, and eventually to contemporary America. The book focuses specifically on how ballet came to embody ideas, or a people, or a time. Homans shows how and why ‘the steps’ were never just the steps but rather were a set of beliefs and a way of life. She explains the ideas, idealism, and politics behind the development of ballet, and she explains very well how the art form was shaped by the Renaissance and French Classicism, by revolutions and Romanticism, by Expressionism and Bolshevism, and by Modernism and the Cold War. The chapter on France and the classical origins of ballet are the most interesting. Homans explains that ballet’s roots can be traced to Charles IX’s time, when he established the Academie de Poesie et de Musique all the way back in 1570. The purpose of the Academie was to bring spirituality to theatre and art. Homans writes, “…these poets believed that hidden beneath the shattered and chaotic surface of political life lay a divine harmony and order – a web of rational and mathematical relations that demonstrated the natural laws of the universe and the mystical power of God.” This is where we see the theoretical foundations of ballet, which just needed to be codified into a technique, which would then ‘elevate man…and bring him closer to the angels and God’ (Homans 2010). Very entertaining in particular is the author’s description of court etiquette and the vanity of kings. Also interesting is her explanation of state strategy, the difference between courtiers and trained dancers, and the eventual move from court to theater in the late 17th century. The connection between dance and politics is emphasized throughout the book, and the reader will understand how ballet – although wordless – is an art form that carries both meanings and subtexts. The reader learns, for example, that the ballerina Marie Antoinette established a trend dressed as a shepherdess, whereafter women in white tunics “became powerful symbols of a nation cleansed of corruption and greed.” (Homans 2010). The women in white became what we know today as the corps de ballet, which took its cue from the Revolution. “They represented the claims of the community over those of the individual” (Homans 2010). The chapters on ballet in the New World focus mostly on the influential Russian choreographer George Balanchine, who founded New York City Ballet in the 20th century to rival the European ballet companies. But, despite Balanchine’s innovative creations of neoclassical ballets that paved the way for a tradition of classical ballet in America, Homans sees no future for ballet. She ends her book with an Epilogue called “The Masters Are Dead and Gone” in which she laments what she perceives as a decline of the classical ballet during the past 20 plus years. Her feeling is that we no longer admire ballet, and that without new genius creators the art form will not survive. That is a perplexing view, given the fact that dance always has been a fluctuating art form. Despite the book’s massive volume of 650 pages, it is rarely boring. Homans’ descriptions of important artists and the works they created or danced are vivid and expressive, - possibly due to the fact that Homans herself was a professional ballerina who danced many of the works she writes about. While her writing is packed with meaning it is never dense or convoluted. A fluid writing style makes it easy for any reader to follow and understand the scenarios surrounding the evolution of ballet for hundreds of years. Apollo’s Angels is scholarly and entertaining at the same time, and beautifully told. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in history, dance, and body politics. Review: Remarkably Well-Researched & Beautifully Written - A fantastic and very comprehensive and well-researched history of ballet as well as the political, social, and cultural mores of the countries that influenced its development. This has been a most enjoyable and thought-provoking read. I was impressed by the depth and breadth of the author's research! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #84,689 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #6 in Classical Dancing #389 in Historical Study (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (345) | | Dimensions | 6.15 x 1.53 x 9.18 inches | | ISBN-10 | 0812968743 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0812968743 | | Item Weight | 1.7 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 720 pages | | Publication date | November 29, 2011 | | Publisher | Random House Trade Paperbacks | ## Images ![Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71AL+dYkFzL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic cultural history of classical ballet!!! *by L***N on April 20, 2014* Apollo’s Angels by Jennifer Homans is a major one-volume cultural history of classical ballet. Homans takes the reader from ballet’s origin in the French Renaissance through to our own time, covering in detail the development of the art form and its evolution as it passed through 16th century France and Italy, to Denmark, Britain, Russia, and eventually to contemporary America. The book focuses specifically on how ballet came to embody ideas, or a people, or a time. Homans shows how and why ‘the steps’ were never just the steps but rather were a set of beliefs and a way of life. She explains the ideas, idealism, and politics behind the development of ballet, and she explains very well how the art form was shaped by the Renaissance and French Classicism, by revolutions and Romanticism, by Expressionism and Bolshevism, and by Modernism and the Cold War. The chapter on France and the classical origins of ballet are the most interesting. Homans explains that ballet’s roots can be traced to Charles IX’s time, when he established the Academie de Poesie et de Musique all the way back in 1570. The purpose of the Academie was to bring spirituality to theatre and art. Homans writes, “…these poets believed that hidden beneath the shattered and chaotic surface of political life lay a divine harmony and order – a web of rational and mathematical relations that demonstrated the natural laws of the universe and the mystical power of God.” This is where we see the theoretical foundations of ballet, which just needed to be codified into a technique, which would then ‘elevate man…and bring him closer to the angels and God’ (Homans 2010). Very entertaining in particular is the author’s description of court etiquette and the vanity of kings. Also interesting is her explanation of state strategy, the difference between courtiers and trained dancers, and the eventual move from court to theater in the late 17th century. The connection between dance and politics is emphasized throughout the book, and the reader will understand how ballet – although wordless – is an art form that carries both meanings and subtexts. The reader learns, for example, that the ballerina Marie Antoinette established a trend dressed as a shepherdess, whereafter women in white tunics “became powerful symbols of a nation cleansed of corruption and greed.” (Homans 2010). The women in white became what we know today as the corps de ballet, which took its cue from the Revolution. “They represented the claims of the community over those of the individual” (Homans 2010). The chapters on ballet in the New World focus mostly on the influential Russian choreographer George Balanchine, who founded New York City Ballet in the 20th century to rival the European ballet companies. But, despite Balanchine’s innovative creations of neoclassical ballets that paved the way for a tradition of classical ballet in America, Homans sees no future for ballet. She ends her book with an Epilogue called “The Masters Are Dead and Gone” in which she laments what she perceives as a decline of the classical ballet during the past 20 plus years. Her feeling is that we no longer admire ballet, and that without new genius creators the art form will not survive. That is a perplexing view, given the fact that dance always has been a fluctuating art form. Despite the book’s massive volume of 650 pages, it is rarely boring. Homans’ descriptions of important artists and the works they created or danced are vivid and expressive, - possibly due to the fact that Homans herself was a professional ballerina who danced many of the works she writes about. While her writing is packed with meaning it is never dense or convoluted. A fluid writing style makes it easy for any reader to follow and understand the scenarios surrounding the evolution of ballet for hundreds of years. Apollo’s Angels is scholarly and entertaining at the same time, and beautifully told. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in history, dance, and body politics. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Remarkably Well-Researched & Beautifully Written *by M***� on December 28, 2025* A fantastic and very comprehensive and well-researched history of ballet as well as the political, social, and cultural mores of the countries that influenced its development. This has been a most enjoyable and thought-provoking read. I was impressed by the depth and breadth of the author's research! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A treat for the dancer and choreographer *by M***3 on January 11, 2012* I have always been unable to connect with dance, let alone ballet. I picked this book after reading James Lipton's MIRRORS. MIRRORS gave me insight into dance, and I wanted to learn more about the history of dance. APOLLO'S ANGELS is an excellent history of ballet, but probably not the first choice for a complete novice about ballet. Ms. Homans is thorough and detailed in her research and the personalities of dance. The writing is well-organized and logical in tracing the ever-moving centers of the ballet world. At times it is a bit dense for someone unfamiliar with terminology and the major companies to read easily. The greatest challenge is keeping all of the players straight. I spent quite a bit of time on the internet looking up the dancers and choreographers trying to keep them straight in my head, especially when dealing with the Russian era. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone familiar with ballet who is interested in delving deeper into its history. I think it would be a good follow-up book for someone like me, after reading a more superficial overview of ballet. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/362466-apollos-angels-a-history-of-ballet](https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/362466-apollos-angels-a-history-of-ballet) --- *Product available on Desertcart Thailand* *Store origin: TH* *Last updated: 2026-06-03*