Thursday, April 23, 2026, Ileana Berlogea Hall, 1st floor, 1 – 1:45 PM
Nicoleta-Cristina Demian, Techniques and Methods of Studying Classical Ballet, Media Musica Publishing House, Cluj-Napoca, 2025
Brief presentation of the book:
The technique of ballet, although it has essentially kept its elementary forms and requirements, has constantly enriched its vocabulary by adding new and new movements, and the technical level of their execution has become higher and higher. The pointes technique, a dancer’s “line”, the addition of new leaps or complex pirouettes are just some of the vocabulary elements of ballet style and technique, which have evolved with the evolution of society and aesthetic taste. The aim of a dancer, who spends years preparing for a career as a professional artist, is to use his or her body as an expressive tool in communicating with the audience. To do this, the ballet dancer needs to have a solid knowledge of movement vocabulary, which he or she can render with the same accuracy with which a poet writes his or her poetry. This book is therefore aimed primarily at students preparing for a professional career in ballet and at those who are changing from being a dancer to a ballet teacher.
The book review:
“The bilingual volume, in Romanian and English, authored by Nicoleta-Cristina Demian, Techniques and Methods of Studying Classical Ballet, published in 2025 by Media Musica Publishing House in Cluj-Napoca, stands as a landmark work in the field of classical dance. Addressing technical, aesthetic, and methodological rigor in the process of choreographic training, this comprehensive methodological tool makes a significant contribution to consolidating classical ballet as an academic discipline, while also serving as a valuable resource for scientific research in the performing arts. Aimed at students, teachers, ballet masters, and professionals in the field, the book offers a contemporary perspective on ballet pedagogy, integrating over 350 years of classical tradition with current trends in modern choreography.”
Dr. Simona Noja-Nebyla
Nicoleta Cristina Demian, PhD, is Associate Professor at the Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Performing Arts Department (Choreography). She published various studies, scientific papers and four books about dance techniques and styles, about dance pedagogy. She organized and holds dance workshops and masterclasses in Romania and abroad. Being a choreographer, she also signed artistic direction of several ballet and contemporary dance performances and she collaborated on many international artistic projects.