I’ve been enjoying reading Where Snowflakes Dance and Swear, by Stephen Manes ever since my husband got if for me for Christmas… back in 2012! It’s not that I’m a slow reader, it’s just so darn big and heavy, at over 800 pages. Still, I need to pick up the pace and get it finished before this Spring, when two new exciting books about dance and dancers are due to be published.
Both books are autobiographies by dancers of major New York City ballet companies. And both dancers promise their readers a glimpse into their lives beyond the glamor of the dance world.
The first one, Dancing Through It: My Journey in the Ballet, is by New York City Ballet (NYCB) Principal Dancer, Jenifer Ringer. Ms. Ringer, who is retiring from the company on February 9, 2014, has had an illustrious and long career with NYCB. She is well known for her roles in Jerome Robbins’ pieces and we have been fortunate to see her perform numerous times at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Along with being a brilliant dancer she is a wonderful, caring teacher which I know from having the great good fortune of attending several of her classes in the area.
However, her journey to Principle Dancer for NYCB has also included some personal struggles with weight and emotional issues. I’m sure her book will be an honest account of her career and her struggles.
My copy of Jenny’s book is on order and I hope it arrives in time for the book signing that will take place at the National Museum of Dance on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, 4:00-6:00pm. If not, I’ll just have to purchase one at the signing. How can I go without having a book autographed?
The other book I’m waiting on will be released on March 4, 2014. It’s titled, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina and it was written by American Ballet Theatre Soloist Misty Copeland.
I’ve never seen Ms. Copeland perform live, but I read an excerpt of her book in the February/March 2014 issue of Pointe magazine. I definitely want to learn more about this ballerina and the economic and cultural challenges she faced in becoming a soloist.
OK, enough Blogging, back to reading.