BALLERINA WISDOM FOR DANCE AND LIFE

Gorgeous watercolor illustrations of dancers glide across the pages of Once Upon a Dance’s guide to a healthy and positive dance career.

Terrel and Konora of the Once Upon a Dance team, along with illustrator Weston, use broad concepts and brief, digestible text to introduce concepts that will be helpful to readers pursuing dance as a profession. They make it clear that not everyone will be successful, but their sage wisdom will allow readers to have a productive journey. Interspersed among beautifully painted images of dancers practicing arabesques or performing pirouettes are helpful tips under headings such as “Show Up,” “Embrace Your Journey,” and “Listen to Your Body,” among others. The gentle narration encourages self-care, openness to criticism, and always working toward self-improvement. The authors do a great job of balancing two important concepts: being gentle with oneself and being realistic about critiques. They also urge readers to work with others as a team and to act with kindness: “Treat people with dignity and respect. You’ll be better. They’ll be better. The world will be better.” One of the book’s greatest strengths is that its wisdom is applicable in many life situations apart from dance; trying one’s best, knowing one’s limits, and prioritizing one’s health are necessary for any successful career. The full-color, painterly illustrations are beautiful throughout, although readers might wish that they displayed more inclusivity; only a few portray dancers of color, for example. The book’s overall message is that one may improve the quality of one’s craft by working on oneself, whether one is currently dancing professionally or just for fun. More diverse representation visually would have made the universality of that message clearer.

An unevenly illustrated but often lovely reminder of the wonders of hard work and believing in oneself.