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Reviews
Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers Is Saving Ballet From Itself by Chloe Angyal
bisonprints's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
kaelaceleste's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely loved the content of this book. There are so many issues with classical ballet as an organization that are outlined here in no uncertain detail. SO MANY things in ballet are done just because “they’ve always been that way” and it’s nice to see them called out by people who are doing so because they love the art form and want it to continue. It was cool to see ballet from a series of different lenses that I hadn’t considered before, as both a dancer and audience member. I particularly enjoyed the chapters exploring race and gender identity in ballet and the one about “ballet moms” also hit home. Ultimately I highlighted way too much in this book (read them here if you want) and there were so many pieces that resonated with me.
However as much as I loved the overall themes and ideas shared here, I can’t help but feel this book could have used one more round of edits. It was pretty repetitive at times and sort of jumped all over the place. It felt like the pieces were put together out of order so some ideas were introduced more than once, and they didn’t always seem to fit. I also sort of felt like it couldn’t decide which tone it was going for in terms of who the expected reader would be. In some places, ballet terms are explained in detail for the uninitiated, but in other places there are references made to shows, steps and other ballet tingz that the average person would be clueless about.
The entire last chapter about the effects of covid on various dancers was also really interesting to me… I’m sure it felt timely and topical when this was published and it’s kinda weird to read it now knowing that I can go look at these dancers’ Instagrams and see how things turned out (and trust that I did). In some ways it felt inspiring now, because in real time I can see that ballet bounced back and we’re doing ok in a semi-post-covid world. But I’m really glad I didn’t read this at the height of the pandemic when we thought we would never get to go to live shows again because it probably would have sent me spiraling lmao
In the end this book made me feel very grateful to have returned to ballet as an adult with a new outlook and mindset than when I was young. I understand now how to be critical of something that I love because I love it and want it to be better. And it really feels like some positive changes are happening, even if it takes a while or people are resistant, and I’m hopeful for what’s to come. Reading this also made me feel SO happy and grateful to dance at a studio that has been so non-judgmental and welcoming. My experience coming back to ballet has been even more positive than it was as a kid and I’m just so SO happy to be doing something I love again. I also feel really lucky to have a local professional ballet company that celebrates diversity in terms of dancers, choreographers and shows more than a LOT of companies out there.
And also I have to note that I came out of this book with MANY new books, films, and Instagram follows. I literally screenshotted the references page so I could go look everything up later lol
I did not anticipate writing this much lol but overall I really enjoyed this book. Not sure I would recommend it to everybody, but I think anyone with a vested interest in ballet in a modern setting would get a lot out of the read like I did.
However as much as I loved the overall themes and ideas shared here, I can’t help but feel this book could have used one more round of edits. It was pretty repetitive at times and sort of jumped all over the place. It felt like the pieces were put together out of order so some ideas were introduced more than once, and they didn’t always seem to fit. I also sort of felt like it couldn’t decide which tone it was going for in terms of who the expected reader would be. In some places, ballet terms are explained in detail for the uninitiated, but in other places there are references made to shows, steps and other ballet tingz that the average person would be clueless about.
The entire last chapter about the effects of covid on various dancers was also really interesting to me… I’m sure it felt timely and topical when this was published and it’s kinda weird to read it now knowing that I can go look at these dancers’ Instagrams and see how things turned out (and trust that I did). In some ways it felt inspiring now, because in real time I can see that ballet bounced back and we’re doing ok in a semi-post-covid world. But I’m really glad I didn’t read this at the height of the pandemic when we thought we would never get to go to live shows again because it probably would have sent me spiraling lmao
In the end this book made me feel very grateful to have returned to ballet as an adult with a new outlook and mindset than when I was young. I understand now how to be critical of something that I love because I love it and want it to be better. And it really feels like some positive changes are happening, even if it takes a while or people are resistant, and I’m hopeful for what’s to come. Reading this also made me feel SO happy and grateful to dance at a studio that has been so non-judgmental and welcoming. My experience coming back to ballet has been even more positive than it was as a kid and I’m just so SO happy to be doing something I love again. I also feel really lucky to have a local professional ballet company that celebrates diversity in terms of dancers, choreographers and shows more than a LOT of companies out there.
And also I have to note that I came out of this book with MANY new books, films, and Instagram follows. I literally screenshotted the references page so I could go look everything up later lol
I did not anticipate writing this much lol but overall I really enjoyed this book. Not sure I would recommend it to everybody, but I think anyone with a vested interest in ballet in a modern setting would get a lot out of the read like I did.
hmagalhaes's review against another edition
5.0
As a dancer of 21 years, this was a fascinating look into how the culture of ballet has evolved over the years and the problems that need to be addressed to correct the system moving forward.
gleefulreader's review against another edition
2.0
I love ballet and really wanted to love this analysis of the current state of ballet and the systemic changes that are needed to ensure the viability of the format going forward. However, this book felt unfinished and unedited. The phrase “as we will examine in later chapters” pops up frequently. There is a great deal of repetition. Sudden topic changes happen such that in a chapter on sexual harassment and the power of men, I had to double check I hadn’t somehow skipped ahead because suddenly I was reading at length about the pros and cons of unionization. There’s a great deal of criticism and examples of where ballet companies are failing but few examples of where companies are succeeding at changing. Overall, it felt like this book had a great premise but was let down by inadequate writing, inadequate editing and a rush to publish.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite a 5 star.
Turning Pointe reminded me very much of a book I read in junior high - [b:Off Balance: The Real World of Ballet|557889|Off Balance The Real World of Ballet|Suzanne Gordon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440821564l/557889._SY75_.jpg|545070] by Suzanne Gordon - that was very much an expose about the toxicity of the ballet world (since it came in the wake of Gelsey Kirkland's [b:Dancing on My Grave|39034|Dancing on My Grave|Gelsey Kirkland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487220193l/39034._SY75_.jpg|1546935] and was more a work of investigative journalism than memoir, I don't think it hit quite as big as it should have). Angyal's new book about ballet in the 21st century, and what we need to do to make the art form relevant, more inclusive, and less-likely to do permanent damage to young bodies and minds both updates Gordon's work and expands it. It is very well-researched, with a lot of interviews with working dancers, teachers, administrators and with some who have left the profession. She covers a lot of subjects including racism, classism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, sexual assault/abuse, psychological abuse, body dysphoria/eating disorders (all the trigger warnings for this book, although it is all handled sensitively, I think).
I think Angyal perhaps tried to cover too much in this book. I feel like she could have pushed deeper on a number of subjects. This may have been due to having to research and finish a book during a global pandemic, which obviously curtailed planned research trips and also added new subjects to the book. But it does feel like this book is the tip of an iceberg, that a book could be written for each chapter to deconstruct some of these very entrenched institutional constructs of "how" ballet and ballet dancers should exist. This is necessary reading for all dancers and dance parents.
And as a former dancer, who started at age 3 and danced until finally stopping at 34, even though I never danced professionally I saw versions of many scenarios recounted in this book. I love ballet, I would have continued taking daily class until I died (thanks, arthritis, you're not welcome), but we as dancers and ballet-lovers really need to demand change or the art form will make itself obsolete.
Turning Pointe reminded me very much of a book I read in junior high - [b:Off Balance: The Real World of Ballet|557889|Off Balance The Real World of Ballet|Suzanne Gordon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440821564l/557889._SY75_.jpg|545070] by Suzanne Gordon - that was very much an expose about the toxicity of the ballet world (since it came in the wake of Gelsey Kirkland's [b:Dancing on My Grave|39034|Dancing on My Grave|Gelsey Kirkland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487220193l/39034._SY75_.jpg|1546935] and was more a work of investigative journalism than memoir, I don't think it hit quite as big as it should have). Angyal's new book about ballet in the 21st century, and what we need to do to make the art form relevant, more inclusive, and less-likely to do permanent damage to young bodies and minds both updates Gordon's work and expands it. It is very well-researched, with a lot of interviews with working dancers, teachers, administrators and with some who have left the profession. She covers a lot of subjects including racism, classism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, sexual assault/abuse, psychological abuse, body dysphoria/eating disorders (all the trigger warnings for this book, although it is all handled sensitively, I think).
I think Angyal perhaps tried to cover too much in this book. I feel like she could have pushed deeper on a number of subjects. This may have been due to having to research and finish a book during a global pandemic, which obviously curtailed planned research trips and also added new subjects to the book. But it does feel like this book is the tip of an iceberg, that a book could be written for each chapter to deconstruct some of these very entrenched institutional constructs of "how" ballet and ballet dancers should exist. This is necessary reading for all dancers and dance parents.
And as a former dancer, who started at age 3 and danced until finally stopping at 34, even though I never danced professionally I saw versions of many scenarios recounted in this book. I love ballet, I would have continued taking daily class until I died (thanks, arthritis, you're not welcome), but we as dancers and ballet-lovers really need to demand change or the art form will make itself obsolete.
moonlunatik's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Amazing investigation of the current issues in ballet.
mfitz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5