Ballet Book Shelf Autumnal Edition 2025
- Rebecca Thomas
- Oct 30
- 2 min read
Ballet Bookshelf has been a bit quiet this year, but as the clocks have turned back and the winter nights draw in why not cosy up (not entirely sure thats the right turn of phrase given the subject matter) with this fascinating and compelling story.
In 2012 Joy Womack made history when she became the first American ballerina to sign a contract with the Bolshoi Ballet Theater in Moscow, Russia.
Dancing in Moscow was not the Onion Dome fairy tale she’d hoped for. The Bolshoi and its school were filled with cutthroat competition, acts of violence, and coaches who encouraged obsessive devotion. They sent her on stage with broken bones, helped her forge immigration paperwork, and encouraged her to toe a dangerous political line - all for the privilege of dancing on one of the world's most storied stages.
As Joy’s career took off and she made a name for herself in the Russian ballet world, she had to face a hard choice. Were the growing dangers of a professional lifestyle descending into corruption worth the realization of her life's dream?
The biographical film 'The American' of Joy's life is available on the usual streaming services
In a similar vein is the BBC Podcast 'Finding Natasha' available on BBC Sounds
On a much lighter note Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes returns to the National Theatre in a new production by Kendall Feaver running from 17th November 2025 to 21st February 2026.
I was fortunate enough to see a performance in February this year and it is charming, funny, poignant, uplifting, innovative and brilliant.
The cast were superb and it was a true ensemble production. Tickets are on sale now and if you are able to go I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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