Dancing Through It
My Journey in the Ballet
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4.5 • 22 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“A glimpse into the fragile psyche of a dancer.” —The Washington Post
Jenifer Ringer, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, was thrust into the headlines after her weight was commented on by a New York Times critic, and her response ignited a public dialogue about dance and weight.
Ballet aficionados and aspiring performers of all ages will want to join Ringer behind the scenes as she shares her journey from student to star and candidly discusses both her struggle with an eating disorder and the media storm that erupted after the Times review. An unusually upbeat account of life on the stage, Dancing Through It is also a coming-of-age story and an inspiring memoir of faith and of triumph over the body issues that torment all too many women and men.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"The ballet world is a narcissistic world made up of circles of interlocking insecurities," says New York City Ballet principal Ringer as she looks back on more than two decades in the company. With disarming candor, she relates devastating low points she experienced as a young dancer, invited to join City Ballet at age 16, as well as years of ascension through the hypercritical ballet world. Her story is turbulent, littered with trials and failures, but also with miraculous comebacks, like after she was fired from City Ballet, criticized for her atypical body size in the New York Times, her problems then dissected in the national media. Ringer infuses her narrative with a deep appreciation for the magic of the theater and a moving sense of gratitude toward her success in such an arduous profession. She is candid about her struggle with eating disorders, her rediscovery of the Christian faith, and her realization, with motherhood, that performances need not be the only measure of success and happiness. Fans of the ballet will revel in her intricately detailed, gently humorous descriptions of rehearsals, hair and make-up preparations, and onstage mishaps. When writing about her religion, occasionally Ringer's words seem rehearsed, but her memoir is an eloquent reminder that moving forward often involves a few falls, missteps, and leaps of faith.
Customer Reviews
A Triumph!
Jenifer Ringer, not only shows the beauty of this art form, but the ugly truths. She was refreshingly honest and that was really admirable, her battle with issues of body image and control with food were almost her undoing. She was so focused in the world of Ballet, that she almost got lost herself, but when she started to focus in her faith, she had realized how distorted her image of herself had been. In that new found strength she was able to overcome even the harshest of criticism, a chapter titled, "Sugar Plum Gate," she did it in such a elegant manner, that it made me admire her even more. This memoir isn't only something ballerinas can relate to, but any young girl or woman that has felt that her value was tied with her weight or appearance.