Why Read About Ballet?
Ballet is a performing art that exists in the moment of performance — but the stories behind the dancers, the companies, and the choreographers are rich, dramatic, and deeply illuminating. Reading about ballet deepens a dancer’s understanding of the art form, inspires young students, and gives dance parents a window into a world they may be new to. These are the books most consistently recommended by dancers, teachers, and dance educators.
Autobiographies and Memoirs
Dancing on My Grave — Gelsey Kirkland
One of the most brutally honest and compulsively readable books ever written about the ballet world. Gelsey Kirkland was one of the greatest American ballerinas of the 1970s — a principal dancer with NYCB and ABT, the original Juliet opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov. This memoir documents both the extraordinary artistry of that era and the darker realities of eating disorders, drug use, and the physical and psychological demands placed on dancers. It is not suitable for young children but is essential reading for older teenagers and adults serious about understanding the profession.
Every Step You Take — Margot Fonteyn
Fonteyn’s own account of her extraordinary life and career is warm, witty, and beautifully written. It covers her training, her decades at the Royal Ballet, her legendary partnership with Rudolf Nureyev, and her life in Panama. Essential reading for any admirer of the Royal Ballet’s history.
Maria Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina — Maria Tallchief with Larry Kaplan
Tallchief’s memoir chronicles her upbringing on the Osage reservation, her extraordinary career with New York City Ballet, and her close artistic partnership with George Balanchine. Honest and compelling, it is one of the most important documents in American dance history.
No Fixed Points: Dance in the Twentieth Century — Nancy Reynolds and Malcolm McCormick
Not a memoir but the most comprehensive single-volume history of 20th-century dance ever published. At over 900 pages it is an extraordinary reference work. For serious dance students, their teachers, and dance libraries.
Books for Young Readers
Ballerina Dreams — Lauren Thompson
Based on a true story of five young girls with physical challenges who trained together at Ballet Arts in New York. Inspiring and warm — ideal for children aged 5–8.
Firebird — Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers
A picture book written by ABT principal dancer Misty Copeland — one of the most prominent ballerinas of the current era and the first Black female principal at ABT — addressed to a young girl who doubts herself. Beautifully illustrated and moving. Ages 5–9.
Ballet Shoes — Noel Streatfeild
First published in 1936 and never out of print, this classic novel follows three adopted sisters — Pauline, Petrova, and Posy Fossil — at a stage school in London. Posy’s obsessive dedication to ballet is one of children’s literature’s great portraits of a young dancer. Ages 8–12.
Books About Companies and Choreographers
Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet — Jennifer Homans
The best single-volume history of classical ballet in print. Homans traces ballet from the French Renaissance through to the present day with both scholarly rigour and genuine passion. Essential for serious dance students and their parents.
Holding It Together — Carlos Acosta
A memoir by the Cuban-born principal dancer who became the first Black Principal Guest Artist at the Royal Ballet. A compelling story of talent, poverty, perseverance, and international success. Suitable for teenage dancers and adult readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ballet book for a young child just starting lessons?
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild (ages 8–12) and Firebird by Misty Copeland (ages 5–9) are both excellent starting points. They capture the dedication, the joy, and the hard work of dance training in ways that inspire rather than overwhelm young readers.
Are there good books about the Royal Ballet?
Yes — Margot Fonteyn’s autobiography is the most personal account of the Royal Ballet’s golden era. Apollo’s Angels by Jennifer Homans covers the Diaghilev era and its influence on British ballet. The Royal Ballet itself has published several commemorative books on its history.
What should dance parents read to understand what their child is learning?
Start with our own guides on ZoeDancewear — the RAD introduction, ballet grades explained, and what is barre? provide the practical context. For a deeper understanding of the art form, Apollo’s Angels is the most accessible serious introduction.