A Fuse#8 Production

GIANT DANCE PARTY by Betsy Bird with illustrations by Brandon Dorman. Greenwillow, 2013.

Betsy Bird is probably better known for her blogs and writings about books. But here is her debut picture book: Giant Dance Party. Lexy decides to quit dance even though she loves it and is quite good at dancing, too. Lexy's trouble comes when she steps onto the stage for a program and freezes (like an ice pop). Instead, she will offer lessons to others. That way she can stay connected to dance without the terrible stage fright business or so she thinks. A group of giants (big, blue, fuzzy giants who want to learn how to dance) might just change her mind.

Panic!

PANIC by Sharon Draper. Atheneum, April 2013.

Dance is everything to Diamond and her friends. The hours spent at the dance studio bring them happiness and a sense of belonging as well. It allows Justin not only an outlet for his creativity but places him in close proximity with Layla, the girl he secretly worships from afar. For Layla, dance means she can forget her trouble with her boyfriend Donovan who is getting way too possessive. Through alternating narrators, Draper reveals what happens when Diamond is abducted by a pedophile at the local mall. How her family and friends react and how the dance studio brings them all together is a powerful metaphor. <574>

Dancing Masters

BUNHEADS by Sophie Flack (Little Brown/Poppy, October 2011) follows the hopes and dreams of Hannah Ward, a member of the corps of ballet dancers at the Manhattan Ballet. Hannah has always dreamed of being a ballet dancer and has spent her last 5 years at the Manhattan Ballet, living on her own and working day in and day out to perfect her craft. She does not have time even to explore the city that houses the ballet company. She spends her days in exercise and rehearsals and her nights sleeping. If she wants to become a soloist and move up in the company, she must dedicate all her being to ballet. <352>

Sophie Flack danced with the New York City Ballet, and this is quite evident in the detailed descriptions of the routines, choreography, and especially in the day to day existence of these young women who aspire to be the best in their professions. Things such as eating disorders, injuries, and competition are treated as matter of fact: which they would be to the young women who will do whatever it takes to get ahead, to be featured, to please.