Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers Is Saving Ballet from Itself Paperback – July 11, 2023

I purchased this book over a year ago and am still enjoying and learning from it as I've been processing all the incredibly helpful and inspiring information that this author has put together. I sat down to write a review because as I was adding it to my bibliography list for my PhD in ballet, I was shocked to read some of the critical reviews. While no book is perfect and this might not be to everyone's liking there is one thing I think is quite clear - how well researched and well written it is. There has clearly been a lot of effort, passion and compassion put into this text and anyone with little knowledge about ballet to years of experience as a professional like myself would get something out of reading it. Of course I am a bit biased being a ballet practitioner and researcher but I am extremely grateful to Chloe for bringing so much of what has been buried for so long into the light and in a way that is unbiased, objective and honest. Perhaps the reality of what the ballet world is really like is uncomfortable for some, but how can the ballet world heal and move forward if we don't take an honest look at who we are and where we've come from? From details of ballet's history to important sports medicine that is not being talked about to very detailed behind the scenes interviews with ballet practitioners from all over the field, this is definitely a worthwhile read and once again I appreciate what it has and continues to offer its audiences both from within the ballet world and outside of it.

As someone who has spent their life in dance—many of them teaching in the ballet schools of large American companies, I recommend Chloe Angyal’s Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers Is Saving Ballet from Itself wholeheartedly. I have already brought it to the attention of our school’s parent group, and I think it should be a company-wide book club night for all major dance companies —especially those who claim to be interested in— if not committed to—making major changes to the ballet world’s status quo. While I questioned and disagreed with certain points, I found myself nodding along (or shaking my head) as Ms. Angyal discussed dance's male-dominated power structure and as dancers of color or otherwise outside the ideal shared their frustrations and longings. A lesson in dance culture viewed from the inside and out, Angyal’s accessible, yet incisive writing made me sad, furious, disgusted, and at times hopeful. A must read for anyone invested in ballet, or ballet-based dance and its future.

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul." - Martha GrahamBallet dancing is an art form. Who took ballet as a child? Not me, I wanted to. I begged to have ballet lessons, but my mother put me in hula dancing instead. But thousands of little girls have taken ballet. It takes discipline, time, dedication, perseverance, money, commitment, and strength. More women than me dance ballet but it is a male dominated by men. Who has not heard of Mikhail Baryshnikov?But in such a beautiful art form there are issues that come up - race, class, power imbalance, high standards of beauty, and gender/gender rules. Ballet consists of rigid rules. How have these rules hold up over time? If Ballet is going to continue to be relevant, it needs to change, adapt and evolve. A new generation of dancer is out there. A generation that wants ballet to coincide with the modern world."...you can't dance forever, so you'd better dance while you can." - Fadeley VeyetteThis book is about the love of dance. Various dancers share their stories of dancing through pain, of being told to butch up, to allow their bodies to be touched, that their body does not look right, they tell of lack of diversity in ballet, they share how males do not have to follow the strict rules that women do, men share their thoughts and concerns about wearing tights. But they also talk about their passion for dance. How they feel free when they move. How important dance is to them. How dance has shaped their lives."If you are going to have the guts to dream, you have to have the guts to pay the price." - Suzanne FarrellThere is also a risk of dancing - injury. Dancing through pain is common. Training is gruesome. There are physical demands. It is costly to admit to being injured - many do not have health insurance, some fear losing a job, plus as they say, "The show must go on.".This is an informative book, and I enjoyed the firsthand accounts from various dancers. They love what they do but they also point out a need for change. This new wave of dancers are the future of ballet and hopefully they can save this artform and change the way dancers are trained and treated.Expertly researched, well written and informative. Fans of dance will love this.

Chloe does an amazing job of exploring all the areas that Ballet has not adjusted to the changes in the world. I appreciate the book's exploration into all the areas that need change.

Dont agree with allThat is said in this book. Please do t cancel me. 😉👍👍. But agree with a lot. An important book . Ballet world is so backwards even if on the surface they try to look like they change. It’s a twisted world. Forsythe at Ballet Frankfurt was way ahead of his time. Respectful and trusting and hired dancers cause of how they danced and not in how they looked

The punishments of ballet extend beyond the physical and Chloe Angyal brings all of the joy and infuriating pain and tragedy of training and performing to life in this beautifully written and informative book. It is for the current dancer, the former dancer, and for the person who is questioning if their child should seriously pursue a career in a world that has remained far too rigid for far too long.

It’s a generational commentary. What a waste of writing.

despite critiquing the institution, much of this is the current institution's new mentality being touted to get us where we are (already). Some good points, but ones most already know.