Bloomsbury Ballet across Borders - Career and Culture Book

Go behind the curtain with Ballet across Borders: Career and Culture in the World of Dancers. This absorbing book serves as a biography of the ballet world, offering a revealing look at a closed society. While audiences see fairy-tale worlds and weightless steps on stage, the reality for performers is often much different. This work examines the competition and camaraderie found within dance companies, as well as the sexual politics and intimacies that define the profession. It addresses the intense pressures dancers face, including highly strung nerves, constant fatigue, and the physical pain from injuries that companies often try to hide to maintain the illusion of ethereal perfection. Written by an author who trained to be a dancer, this book bridges the gap between the polished performances seen by the public and the true experiences of those in the studio. It provides a deep look into the magic of the art form alongside the difficult realities of a professional dance career.