Dance Masters is a collection of interviews with legendary dance teachers from New York, spanning ballet, jazz, tap, and modern. Each chapter highlights the voices of masters like Jerry Ames, Mary Anthony, Phil Black, Brenda Bufalino, and Eugene “Luigi” Faccuito, among many others. The format is straightforward. We hear directly from the teachers as they share their histories, philosophies, frustrations, triumphs, and above all, their passion for dance. The book also weaves in the author’s own reflections, especially her personal journey through illness and recovery, and how dance became her lifeline back to wholeness. It feels both like an oral history and a love letter to the art form.

I found myself moved by the intimacy of the interviews. The voices come across as raw and real. Some passages carry the weight of nostalgia. Others pulse with the intensity of people who gave their entire lives to movement. I appreciated how unvarnished it all felt. Teachers didn’t just talk about success; they spoke about financial struggles, physical limitations, and disappointments. That honesty gave the book heart. Some interviews circle the same themes: discipline, passion, and sacrifice. Still, the personalities shine bright enough to keep things engaging.

What struck me most was the mix of grit and joy. Many of these teachers had been through personal and professional battles, yet they never lost the fire for dance. Their words made me think about resilience, about what it means to create even when the body fails or the industry changes. The anecdotes about Broadway’s ups and downs, the tap renaissance, or how students transform under guidance, all of it gave me a sense of history that felt alive. At moments, I caught myself smiling; other times, I felt a lump in my throat.

I’d recommend Dance Masters to dancers of any level, but also to anyone fascinated by the process of teaching and creating. It’s not a manual. It’s a record of lived experience, the kind that might inspire a young dancer to push through or remind a seasoned teacher why they started. If you care about the human side of art, the sweat, the doubt, the spark, this book will speak to you.

Pages: 410 | ASIN : B0D9TM6L17