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Intended for general and elite athletic populations, this expanded second edition includes essential information on physiology of exercise with a particular focus on the functioning of muscles and connective tissues during stretching.  Three hundred and eleven stretches for 41 types of physical activity, including dance, are presented with an emphasis on the importance of warm-up, appropriate execution, duration and number of repetitions.

While controversial aspects of different stretching protocols are addressed, little information is provided to explain why certain techniques are preferable to others. Professional supervision may be necessary during integration of these protocols into athletic training to ensure safe and effective execution.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

This book has chapters written by different authors who are experts in their field.  Even though it is a general sport psychology book, there is a large chapter on mental skills training for dancers and most of the other chapters can be applied to dance.  The chapters include commentary of realistic stories that help with the understanding of putting psychological applications into teaching practice.  This is an informative book for teachers and dance scientists alike.

Reviewed by Karen Wood

This textbook is primarily designed for students who want to develop knowledge and understanding of strength training and conditioning.  It offers a basic theoretical underpinning for those who may not have had any previous knowledge in this area, but it is best suited for those with a good understanding of physiology and anatomy. Concept and application are only one section of the text.

The bulk of the text is almost a step-by-step guide on how to test, evaluate, use techniques, and design a strength and conditioning program. In addition, it explains how to set-up facilities for testing and training of strength and conditioning. It also includes self-assessment tests.

Reviwed by Frankie Ward

Compared to Food for Fitness this is a much more intense and complicated text.  It goes into more in depth and explores more issues specific to sport rather than fitness.  For example, Bean explains more on proteins, vitamins and minerals, supplements, lipids (fats), etc.  There is also a section dedicated to the female athlete. 

This book is for those more interested in how nutrition works on a physiological level rather than the practical application, although there is a section on designing a nutrition plan. Mostly this book provides the ‘why’ of good nutrition for sports performance.  It is a highly recommended text for those who are sports nutritionists or are considering a career in sports nutrition.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

This book is a step-by-step guide to nutrition for sport and fitness.  It has the added bonus of containing 99 recipes for drinks, snacks, and meals.  This is an excellent text for someone interested in taking control of their nutrition to improve their performance.  The author tackles the subject from a health and fitness standpoint without getting ‘bogged down’ in the nuances of what different sports and activities may require.

The author is very straightforward and lays out a pre, during, and post plan for training.  At the end the author provides many good online resources that the reader can explore for further information.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

This book was primarily written for dance teachers and student teachers but is also useful to those involved in providing dance to young people.  It is an essential handbook of information for the teacher who works in all kinds of environments.  It includes tips for practical application of teaching and learning and things to look out for to enable the teacher to work in a safe and risk free manner.  The book also gives a little bit of history of dance and tips for choreography.

Reviewed by Karen Wood

A milestone in the national (UK) research on dance and health, Fit to Dance? emphasizes the importance of the physical and psychological preparedness that enables dance professionals to meet the demands of their performing careers. The study was implemented by Dance UK in 1993-1994 to address the issues of dancers' health and injury. Findings from physiological and psychological research are presented to educate dancers of the risks associated with performance-limiting injuries.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

Primarily this text is for those in the medical profession.  It serves as a good resource for those in the medical field that find themselves interacting with dancers as patients and colleagues. As with any medical text it is very technical and covers a vast amount of information.  It boasts, “Clinical Sports Medicine has established itself as the authoritative reference for clinicians who treat musculoskeletal conditions and prescribe activity”.

Indeed, it contains answers to any clinical sports medicine question one may have; but because it is very thorough one should be specific about the information needed before consulting this book.  In addition the book comes with a CD, excellent for both clinicians and for students as a study tool.  Overall the text is a primary source for information on identifying and treating sports injuries.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

This is an easy and approachable text. Its primary purpose is to outline the definition of anorexia and bulimia. The author suggests theories about why people may suffer from such disorders.  The author lays out self-help strategies and discusses what kind of professional help is available. 

The book contains contact information of organizations that can help sufferers.  The book has been reprinted, but the reader should check that the information inside is still current before proceeding with any course the author may suggest.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

The principal emphasis of this study is on exploring the emotional and psychological aspects of teaching and learning dance at a professional level. Intended primarily for teachers at vocational dance schools, the book may also provide useful assistance to artistic directors, choreographers, dance administrators and parents whenever they need to reflect on the psychological environment in which students are trained for a career in dance.

Of particular interest may be the author’s ideas on improving students’ poor nutritional practices. While the focus is on the emotional needs of young female dancers, the study includes a valuable chapter addressing the issues and concerns of young male students in dance training.

The rigor of the author’s research is well demonstrated in the appendix which includes samples of conducted interviews, a description of research methods and a summary of recommendations for future research. 

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

In this informative and easy to read book, the author places considerable emphasis on the importance of adopting and practicing methods for the psychological preparation of athletes.  Simple and easy to follow techniques addressing goal setting, self-awareness, coping resources, focus and anxiety are developed to maximize athletic performance and reduce risks of injury.

The informal, conversational style makes this text an attractive choice for athletes or dancers who seek a more informed approach to training, performance and injury prevention from psychological perspective.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

The book itself tackles the issue of smoking cessation though the “removal of fear”.  The book explores how to deal with the phobias and anxieties that erupt when trying to ‘kick a habit’.  It is a good and enlightening read for those serious about stopping smoking. Lastly, it guarantees you’ll stop, or your money back. 

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

The author has put together a comprehensive book of how the body moves and maintains posture through colourful illustrations.  There are tables of muscles and joints to assist the learner in anatomical positioning, directional movement terminology (e.g. abduction, adduction) and definition of terms.  The author is the founder of the London School of Sports Massage and the book is geared towards a detailed knowledge of the muscular skeletal system.  This book can be carried around easily for reference. 

Reviewed by Karen Wood

This book offers current information about nutrition for the dancer and uncovers certain truths. For example, it quashes the myths about weight control. The case for a balance of nutrients in the diet is explained,  as well as the specific nutrients needed for dancers.  The author explains concisely the demands of dance exercise which gives a clear understanding to the reader.  Also included in this book is a section on psychological factors and eating disorders.  There are menus included in the back of the book to help with meal planning.

Reviewed by Karen Wood

A comprehensive book ideal for dancers, students and teachers who want to establish correct technique and prevent injury.  The author clearly displays the anatomical considerations of technique and the kinaesthetic fundamentals.  Included in the book are pictures and exercises to help strengthen and improve the dancer’s body.  Every injury that a dancer could potentially come across is well-described.  Each chapter ends with study questions and applications. 

Reviewed by Karen Wood

This small guidebook is a must read for all dancers starting training and probably would be a good refresher for a professional dancer.  It is a quick and succinct text that provides real insight and direction on how a dancer can start and maintain a healthy career.

The text gives factual information on what a healthy dancers body ought to be, as well as provides nutritional information.  It also contains information on eating disorders.  The final section describes important professional issues, such as dancers’ rights.  The author reminds the dancer that their body is their tool and advises what to do to protect it and ensure a long and healthy career.  All dancers should consult this text.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

This is a must-have book for any dance student who wants to optimise their performance and improve their training.  The book is extremely valuable for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying movement as well as teachers who want to inform their own practice.  The author has worked with dancers for over 30 years teaching kinesiology and her wealth of knowledge of this subject is reflected in the book.  Studying the anatomical, physiological and biomechanical considerations of movement, as a science, is a beneficial reader for any dancer.

Reviewed by Karen Wood

As the title suggests, this book is for designers and people interested in understanding what constitutes an optimal floor for dancers.  This text is a how, what, and why of floors for dancing from studio spaces to performance spaces. It provides good reference for materials, design, and structure.  This text is a good starting point for anyone that needs the basic physical requirements and design of proper dancer flooring.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

This is a practical nutrition book with a fair amount of scientific language, but is easy to understand by a lay reader. It explains the ‘jargon’ as well as the potential application of theories. The book is best used as a guide for goals that the reader sets for their sport or activity. The book is not activity specific, but offers general fitness goals to improve performance.

The downside of this book is that a dancer may have to be ‘nutrition savvy’ enough to know which of the information is applicable to their training and what should be set aside.  It does however give very sound scientific background for all the recommendations and plans inside. Before diving into this text the reader should know how they want to use nutrition to improve their performance.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

Designed for use with young people, this book incorporates the criteria for the National Curriculum for Physical Education.  It covers the national curriculum requirements, warm up and cooling down theories, safe working practices and gives practical ideas for Key stages 1-4.  It is a useful tool for any PE teacher or those involved in working with young people.  Good basic advice on the necessity of warming up and cooling down and the importance of stretching is provided. 

Reviewed by Karen Wood

This almost 600 word book is an extensive read, all of which is informative for the reader. It covers everything you may wish to know about nutrition with questionnaires for assessment of one’s own nutritional intake with guidance and advice on how to improve this for a healthier lifestyle.

Fortunately at the end of each chapter Holford has included a bullet pointed summary of the key points covered making this complex information slightly easier to understand.

Important areas such as ‘use of supplements’ are explained as well direction into how one can produce their own personal supplement programme to meet individual needs. The book includes a wide range of subjects related to nutrition from hormones, food allergies, osteoporosis, eating disorders to detoxification. Towards the end of the book is an ‘A-Z food fact-file’ stating key facts about numerous nutrients. There is also a key emphasis within the read about ‘the truth’ being explained, especially with regards to food packets. 

This book is very intense for a complete read but is a valuable source of information for the Higher Education or Post Graduate Student, the teacher, professor or health specialist.

Reviewed by Charlotte Tomlinson

The author provides an insight into the prevalent types and causes of dance injuries. Intended for students, dance professionals and the general reader, the book delivers an overview of anatomical concepts relevant to physical activity as well as the pathology, prevention and treatment of general and specific injuries. A separate section supplemented by photographs offers a set of exercises for body strengthening and injury prevention.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

This book has potential for a wide audience from dance fitness instructors to dancers themselves who are serious about maintaining/improving fitness.  Basically, as the title indicates, it is a manual on how to teach group exercise, although the book is not limited to this singular purpose. 

The first section is devoted to the definition of group exercise, the evolution of fitness, and a practical part on how to organize a class. The second section is extremely valuable as it covers cardiorespiratory, muscular, and flexibility training.  In this section it shows how to do a wide array of exercises, the science behind it, and safety issues.  The final section is a manual on how to teach the most common group activities such as step aerobics and water activities.

The book also comes with an instructional DVD as well as several appendices with forms and questionnaires that a group fitness teacher would find very useful.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

Teaching Dance Skills is a great book for both experienced and novice dance instructors.  It is divided in two sections, (1) the theory of teaching dance to all levels and (2) applying these theories in the studio.  The authors suggest that teaching dance by incorporating motor learning theory is paramount because this in turn stresses how a student learns. It is a fairly comprehensive book that will engage the reader and make the reader question their methods of teaching.

The first section of the book outlines the basics of teaching dance (for children, experienced, and novice adults).  After instilling the basics, the second and more practical section, allows the teacher to explore ways in which they can maximize the potential of their students. This book is full of useful diagrams, tables, photos, and references.  It might well be recommended to dance students as so they may better understand how the instruction they are receiving will optimize their performance skills.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

The authors’ recognition of dancers as a unique group of athletes is a principal premise of this well-written and informative book which will enrich knowledge of students and teachers on key fitness-related concepts such as cardio-vascular endurance, strength, flexibility, mobility and power.  Experts contribute chapters in the field of dance medicine and science. A special focus is on health-promoting behaviours such as balanced nutrition and psychological well-being as well as recognition and prevention of high rates of injuries among dancers.  The authors’ insight into the functioning of the human body makes the text a valuable resource for teachers, dance and health professionals whose mission is to help dancers optimize their training and performance potential.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

This is a follow-up report to the first publication of Fit to Dance.  Similar in some respects to its predecessor, Fit to Dance 2 has much more current research and information.  The text is a review of the findings of the second national survey into dancers’ health. The responses to questionnaires and interviews that were given to dancers, dance managers, and dance teachers were analysed and presented in this text.

This report is useful to those researching dance health and science as it provides current data and analysis of a large sample of the UK’s dance population.  Therein, the analysis allows the author to make recommendations based on these findings as well as from the previous enquiry into dance health (1996).

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

This book is an informative read for dance students, dance educators and professional dancers. It is not difficult to understand yet it is extremely thorough and gives sound advice for the dancer in training. It includes useful extras such as food diary examples which vary depending on required calorie intake, calculations so that the reader can easily work out amounts for the individual, and recommended further reading with useful websites and addresses also listed. The chapters included cover a number of important areas incorporating Macronutrients, Dance and Osteoporosis, Fad Diets, Body Sculpting and Weight loss, and Injury, Nutrition and Recovery to name a few.  The author has been successful in breaking down each subject so that it is clear for the reader to follow as well as including a bullet pointed summary at the end of each chapter.
The entire text is valuable for the dance student and it would be an excellent addition to the dancers’ recommended reading lists. 

Reviewed by Charlotte Tomlinson

This book is geared towards the student of exercise physiology or those who have basic prior knowledge.  However, it is fairly accessible to all thanks to the use of pictures, graphs and a clear writing style.  The authors have divided the book into sections which are: nutrition, energy for physical activity, systems of energy delivery and utilisation, enhancement of energy capacity, and exercise performance and environmental stress and body composition.  It is definitely a book for a dance scientist.  A big text book and not designed for light reading! This is a general book of exercise physiology rather than a book tailored specifically to dance. 

Reviewed by Karen Ward

The author provides an insight into psychological preparation of athletes for their major competing events. Readers will be engaged by a number of fascinating stories in which Olympic gold medalists share secrets of their personal success. The author personally coached many of these champions to help them develop mental skills necessary for a winning performance.  While the book is primarily intended for athletes and coaches, dancers and dance professionals will find a great deal of information that can be incorporated into their practice. Of particular interest may be references to stress reduction through breathing, somatic and imagery techniques.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

This is a textbook that provides both sport and exercise psychological theory along with up-to-date research. The research in this edition is analyzed and the author then suggests further research projects.

The text is broken down into four sections: (1) Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology, (2) Exploring Athletic Performance, (3) Team Cohesion, and (4) Health, Exercise, and Injury.  Those wishing to extend psychological theory into real world studies and application should consult this text.  With that in mind, this text may be best suited to those who already understand basic psychological theories.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

Dance and health professionals and scholars will find this collection of texts a useful guide to the research of theories, practices and applications in the field of sport and exercise psychology over the past two decades.  Intended for practitioners who seek to develop the field in the future, the book presents a comprehensive overview of research findings and current trends while linking theory and practice by examples drawn primarily from Australian sports.

Collectively, the texts provide a shared scientific knowledge of the field’s most debated topics including stress and anxiety, mood states, personality, motivation, goal setting, optimal performance and injury prevention. Each chapter is introduced within the context of the current trend and concluded with a statement for future directions. 

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

Having spent a lifetime in Physical Education and Exercise Science, the author delivers an essential guide to exercise with a particular emphasis on safety and effectiveness. The book contains useful information on general principles of anatomy and kinesiology, strengthening, toning and stretching. The author’s major concern is that lack of familiarity with these principles may lead to serious injuries and complete cessation of physical training. To assist athletes in training, physical education teachers, coaches and sport therapists in practicing safer techniques, the author provides a clear explanation of each presented exercise. These explanations are supplemented by photographs, line drawings and discussions of adverse effects due to incorrect execution.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

This is a comprehensive dance health book.  It encompasses issues such as injury, nutrition, psychology, and many others. The book is aimed at student and professional dancers. There is a vast amount of information covered in this text.  Some of the book can be very technical and scientific, while other sections are easier and more direct.  It is a good book for acquiring information on the health issues that surround dance.

Some of the research and information in this book may be slightly out-of-date due to its publication date.  The primary message and direction that the authors want to steer dancers in is still sound.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

This is a self-help book for people who suffer from bulimia. The book is aimed at women with no specific background. It is an easy and comprehensive read.  It defines bulimia nervosa is and explains how to use the book. Everything the reader might need to know is laid out for them in the text.  It uses the approach of educating the reader and showing how one can change and heal.

This book, while it has been reprinted several times, is older and may not have the most current facts.  The theories and strategies that it provides are still sound and have been clinically tested.  This would make a good introductory book for those who suffer from bulimia nervosa and seek change.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

Drawing upon the expertise of researchers in exercise physiology, psychology, biomechanics and physical education, the book provides an interdisciplinary discussion of occurrence, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries among athletes and dancers.  While the technical scope of the presented chapters may seem intimidating at a first glance, the observations and ideas discussed in these chapters quickly become familiar territory to dancers. The collected studies include surveys of injury patterns, essential anatomy and practical solutions to occurrence, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries provide a foundation of knowledge answering many questions that commonly persist in the minds of dancers.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

This text, published in conjunction with the British Olympic Association, is as the author describes: a hard, no nonsense approach to nutrition for any person who is exercising on a regular basis. The ethos for this books stems from the ‘6 Ps’, “Prior Preparation and Planning Prevents a Poor Performance”.  Unlike other nutritional authorities the author does not prescribe a plan of action; instead she hopes that in explaining the science the reader can make decisions to suit their activity.

The first part of the book covers the basics of nutrition.  This section has current data and resources that are useful for all active individuals.  The author then proceeds to discuss more specialized topics, such as nutrition for women athletes and diabetic athletes.  The book is marketed as all-inclusive from the recreational athlete to the Olympic athlete.  This doesn’t mean that by following the guidelines of this book you can eat your way to becoming an Olympic athlete.  However, the message of planning and preparation is apropriate for any serious dancer.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

The authors are concerned with those psychological aspects of dance instruction that, if not properly addressed, may adversely affect the development of the dancer’s full artistic and athletic potential.  Motivation, self-confidence, concentration, stress, burnout and injuries are among the main concepts discussed in the book as the factors most influencing dance performance.

The authors suggest a series of practical techniques that can be incorporated into teaching and will help dancers stay motivated, reduce stress and develop self-confidence.  A separate chapter provides recommendations for designing a Psychological Program for Enhanced Performance to complement traditional dance instruction. While these recommendations are helpful, implementation of such a program may require additional time commitment from both dancers and teachers.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

Taylor and Wilson have put together a very comprehensive book, best suited for students and academics.  It thoroughly covers many psychological theories for sport.  The four perspectives refers to four over arching principles that athletes must consider: psychological factors, performance enhancement strategies, coaching, and common psychological problems of athletes.

In addition the text contains actual accounts from athletes and coaches that provide real world substance for each theory and principle.  This makes understanding the complex theories much easier and provides salient proof for psychological health for athletes.

Reviewed by Frankie Ward

This book is a comprehensive guide for the teacher and dancer providing basic anatomy and kinesiology information.  It is set out clearly and can be understood well thanks to the use of images and excellent writing style.  The book is in 3 parts: The Systems, The Structures and The Dancer in Action. 

The author begins with defining the basic structure of bone, muscle and joints which is invaluable information for the teacher and dancer.  The author explains the structure of the human body in relation to movement and concludes the book on the importance of how to look after The Systems and Structures of the body in the dance class; through correct warm up and cool down procedures, stretching, balance and breathing.  The author ends on a note regarding the growth spurt which is essential knowledge for any teacher.

Reviewed by Karen Wood

Through theoretical, practical and anecdotal examples, the authors of this engaging book provide a “roadmap” to understanding of basic principles of sport and exercise environments and processes in which the development of physiologically and psychologically healthy athletes occurs.  Of particular interest to dancers may be discussions about competition, leadership, team dynamics in sport as well as psychological skills training necessary to cope with pressures of performance, stress, burnout, overtraining and injury risks.

Each chapter contains a summary of key learning points which are highlighted throughout the text by references to illustrations, summary tables, practice tests and the book’s on-line supplemental guide.  The book is accompanied by a summary package of slides, the instructor’s guide for organizing lectures and outlines and a bank of 800 test questions for review of the material.

Reviewed by Irina Wunder

The functioning of the human body during physical activity is the central theme of this book.  Despite the complexity of the material they cover, the authors' explanations of cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromuscular and metabolic adaptation to physical exercise are simple and clear. The text is augmented by accompanying illustrations, schemes and photographs, which are of outstanding quality. Also discussed in detail are the environmental, age and gender issues that must be considered during physical training.  Chapters are well organized with an introductory overview, a list of key points, an explanation of terminology, and test questions and references. Dance students, instructors and professionals will find the book a welcome addition to their library.

Reveiwed by Irina Wunder