imyourmausoleum 's review for:

Don't Think, Dear: On Loving and Leaving Ballet by Alice Robb

3.0

reflective medium-paced

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Alice Robb was a student at the illustrious School of American Ballet. In this book, she discusses the time and energy it takes to pursue dancing full time. Many dancers also work "real world" jobs to help make ends meet, especially in cities where the cost of living is high. (If you are a fan of the recent Netflix show centered around the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, this theme may resonate with you.) This memoir really drives home how physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing it can be to be a dancer, which I have developed a deeper appreciation for. It was also interesting to see the juxtaposition of societal issues in the world and how they occur on a smaller scale inside the world of ballet. I really found this book to be exceptionally eye opening, and I absolutely recommend it for anyone who enjoys dancing.