Ballet is a dance that takes incredible amounts of determination and discipline, and provides in reward one of the most elegant and graceful dance styles. Celebrate the strength and refinement of ballet with these indie books!
Explore children’s books that showcase how ballet is for everyone, thrillers that emphasize the resilience of dancers in the face of danger, memoirs of professional ballet dancers, photobooks that demonstrate the elegance of movement, and more!
Athena the Ballerina
by Jennifer Ortiz Correa and Judith Gosse
Athena the Ballerina is a charming children’s book inspired by the true story of a little girl with low muscle tone, also known as hypotonia. Although it was challenging to walk and stand, she always loved to dance, just like Athena! With help from medical equipment and encouragement from her mom, will Athena overcome a challenge and be brave?
The book shares important lessons about persistence, courage, and strength that will inspire readers of all ages!
Bella’s Brigade for Hope
by Isabella Iannuzzi and Maja Andersen
Bella’s Brigade for Hope is a beautiful and heartwarming story about friendship, a shared love of ballet, and the miracle of organ transplantation. Bella and Deanna are best friends. They do everything together and they both love ballet more than anything! When Deanna suddenly becomes ill, their plans for the upcoming ballet recital are put on hold. Instead, the two friends must face the scariest time of their lives.
Their love for each other, and their courage to overcome their fears, grows into a mission that will help to bring hope and joy to other children battling sicknesses.
The Spanish Swan Ballet: Faith’s Wish
by Lorraine Gomez-Maese, Hannah Ogletree, and Grace James
The Spanish Swan Ballet is a short inspirational story about a young girl with a disability who loves ballet. The mysterious La Maestra takes Faith under her wing and tells her that anyone can dance, no matter the disability. With La Maestra’s guidance, will Faith become “The Spanish Swan?”
The Vanishing Ballerina: A Bobby Bocchini Mystery
by Jameson Keys
The Spanish Swan Ballet is a mystery thriller that follows private investigator Bobby Bocchini. Bobby is a former NYPD detective who survived 9/11, but lost his mobility and career in the process.
In this volume, Bobby’s old boss asks him to investigate an unsolved case from seven years ago that involves a young ballet student who vanished after her class. The case has tormented the girl’s father and Bobby’s former CO for years. Bobby agrees to help them, even though he is already working on another case. He is not sure if he can manage both cases physically, but he refuses to give up.
During his investigation, he discovers a link to a huge criminal network. Along the way, he also runs into a romantic interest that he can’t resist.
Will Bobby solve the case and find love, or will fate have a final deadly twist for him?
Timeless Dance. Remixed.
Images of the Award-Winning Dissonance Dance Theatre of Washington D.C.
by Shawn Short
To watch a dancer move, is seeing magic unfold in front of your eyes. As the Washington, D.C. area’s only Black-managed contemporary ballet, and the only one of its kind between New York City and Atlanta, Dissonance Dance Theatre is one of a kind.
Timeless Dance. Remixed. is an exceptional collection of images showcasing the range, beauty, and artistry of Dissonance Dance Theatre. A joy for lovers of dance and photography!
Dansez!: A Dancer with Ballet in her DNA
by Patricia Mideke Bloom
In her memoir, Dansez! A Dancer with Ballet in Her DNA, Patricia Mideke Bloom takes readers behind the curtain into the rigorous and exhilarating world of ballet.
From her early aspirations as a young dancer to performing with the National Ballet of Washington, D.C., and her experiences in New York City, Patricia’s memoir captures the essence of dedication, discipline, and passion that defines the life of a professional dancer. Through rich personal anecdotes, she shares the joy of performing, the physical and emotional toll of the art, and the lifelong bonds formed in the ballet community. Dansez! A Dancer with Ballet in Her DNA is not only a celebration of ballet, but also a testament to the strength and resilience required to thrive in the performing arts.
A must-read for ballet enthusiasts, performing arts lovers, and anyone inspired by stories of dedication, creativity, and the pursuit of dreams!