Georgina Pazcoguin joined the New York city Ballet when she was just seventeen. In 2013, after dancing ten years in the Corps de Ballet, she was promoted, and became NYCB's first Asian American female soloist. Her candid memoir is a revealing look into the competitive (even cutthroat), demanding, sexist, and sometimes toxic culture that exists at the NYCB. What else comes through is her fierce love of ballet. In her twenty years as a professional ballerina, she's had some exhilarating highs and some devastating lows. She's persevered through it all. And she shares her struggles and her joy with refreshing frankness, honesty, and humor.
I've always loved reading about anything that has to do with ballet, and this book is a very engaging memoir! It's interesting and eye-opening, and it gave me an even greater appreciation for the years and years of dedication and effort, and all the hard work that these dancers put forth in hopes of becoming a professional ballerina. This book is a 5-star read!
Happy Reading!
While I don't know all that much about ballet I've always found the behind the scenes aspect fascinating. Glad you enjoyed this one!
ReplyDeleteAnd that what this book gives you: a very fascinating behind the scenes look. :D
DeleteThis sounds terrific! I've read a bunch of ballet-related novels (always fascinating), but not any memoirs. Adding this to my TBR!
ReplyDeleteIt was so good...especially if you're like me and love ballet books. :D
DeleteSounds amazing. I know about the struggles to become top ballerina. A coworker of mine had a daughter who was told by the ballet company she lacked the strength to be a first class dancer. That was a big let down for her.
ReplyDeleteI bet. In this book Gina talks about the first time her legs were too fat, and how devasting that was for her to hear...and then what she tried to do about it. Very eye-opening.
DeleteI don't know a lot about ballet, but this sounds like a fascinating read. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much! :)
ReplyDeleteI found her story to be a very fascinating one. :D
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it!!
ReplyDeleteIt was a really good read.
DeleteI love the ballet as well, and would love this book. I've read some fiction about the NY ballet, but never a true story.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the fiction books you read?
DeleteThat must be such an amazing and yes cutthroat at times world, I bet it's a fascinating memoir!
ReplyDeleteShe does a really good job of telling her truth and what she's experienced in the ballet world without hating ballet.
DeleteWhoa all that ballet must be tough on the body, but I love these kind of tell-all memoirs!
ReplyDeleteI love them, too! :D
DeleteThat sounds like it would be very insightful into the ballet.
ReplyDeleteIt really was. And told in a very conversational, readable way.
DeleteI have heard ballet is brutally competitive. It does sound like an interesting read. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a very compelling read. I couldn't put it down. :)
DeleteThis is hopefully an eye-opening read for the NYCB -- it's so sad what she had to go through from the sounds of it, but he love for ballet must've been fierce!
ReplyDeleteIt is sad the discrimination and mental abuse she faced, but the way she found her inner strength and stood up for herself made me want to cheer.
DeleteMy daughter danced through her teens and it can be grueling. I'll have to check this out.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was candid, humorous and eye-opening. Adn so good.
DeleteThis sounds like such an interesting memoir. Ballet has always fascinated me.
ReplyDeleteMe, too! In fiction or in nonfiction, and always on the stage.
DeleteThis sounds incredibly interesting! I imagine that a ballet dancer would have a very different kind of life.
ReplyDeleteI think that's what I find so fascinating about it!
DeleteSwan Dive sounds like a great read, Lark! It really can be grueling, even more so for those who compete or want to dance professionally.
ReplyDeleteYes! The level of commitment needed to become a professional ballet dancer is so immense...I admire anyone who can do it.
DeleteBoth of my daughters did ballet lessons for several years when they were growing up so I have some appreciation of just what a demanding art it is. I have immense admiration for those who devote their lives to it.
ReplyDeleteMe, too! Ballet dancers always make it look so effortless and graceful on stage, but to reach that level in ballet must take hours and years of hard work!
DeleteI spent some time teaching music at the Ballet Academy here in Houston. It was fascinating to see the young people so dedicated to their craft. I know, though, there are also some darker sides to the art.
ReplyDeleteYes...sadly. I guess that's true for most areas of life though.
DeleteI know so little about ballet, but her personal struggles and love of her work are highly appealing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fascinating and very engaging book. :D
DeleteThis sounds fascinating. I know how cutthroat even local ballet studios can be so I can't even begin to imagine the atmosphere in the higher levels.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a very supportive or kind atmosphere, that's for sure.
DeleteOoh I love a ballet book, too. Isn't as good as Ballet Shoes, though?!!
ReplyDeleteBallet Shoes is wonderful! This one is good in other ways.
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