Mao’s Last Dancer, directed by Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Bride of the Wind, Breaker Morant, Double Jeopardy), this is the true story of Li Cunxin, who was plucked from his village school room  and brought to Bejing to train as a classical ballet dancer, in accordance with Chairman Mao’s great vision. The story unfolds as the boy is taken from his family and subjected to rigorous training by mostly cold-hearted instructors. His hard work and persistence pay off and  he develops into a dancer with enough promise that he is noticed by Houston Ballet choreographer Ben Stevenson and invited to come to America as a guest dancer.

Thus begins a new chapter of Li Cunxin’s life. After spending some time in America, he chooses not to return to China.

The dancing by Chi Cao in this movie is truly beautiful –  Cao  joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1995 and was promoted to Principal in 2002.He trained at the Beijing Dance Academy and the Royal Ballet School. The movie is based on the book. Either are worth the time.

Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School is an unexplored gem. We happened upon this movie by accident, but it’s got an all-star cast (Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, Donnie Wahlberg and John Goodman) and is worth watching more than once. Frank Keane (Robert Carlyle), recently widowed, is driving his bakery truck along a deserted stretch of highway when he comes upon the scene of a horrible accident. He calls 911 and is told to keep the injured motorist talking until they arrive. The name of the injured driver is Steve Mills (John Goodman) who was rushing to an important appointment made thirty-five years ago with his grammar school sweetheart. Steve finally realizes he’ll never be able to keep his promise he asks Frank to keep the appointment for him.

Frank honors Steve’s request and the course of his life is altered forever.

For anyone who loves dance… or has suffered through childhood social dance classes, the movie will have you laughing, crying, or both.

Like most dancers, I look for workout clothing that is comfortable, well-designed, and built to last. Zobha, based in Northern California is currently in the running as a top contender for workout wear because their products satisfy on every level. “Zobha” is a Sanskrit word meaning grace, beauty and brilliance. Zobha’s founder and CEO, Jamie Hanna, is a Yoga Alliance certified instructor with a business background in apparel and sourcing, and a life-long interest in fashion, design and art. She obviously knows her stuff.

Key reasons to choose Zobha workout gear:

• Fabrics are high quality and durable. I love the feel of good fabric, especially rich, thick cotton that has a lot of give. Built-in support is always a plus.

• Colors and prints are unique and pleasing.

• Styles stand out above the rest. Many are unusual and quite artful. They can just as easily be worn out in the world when you’re done in the studio.

• Zobha gives to the community by donating to Headstand,  a program that brings yoga to the classrooms of children at risk, and other programs.

I like feeling stylish, even when I’m getting ready to sweat.

Title: Rose Sees Red
Author: Castellucci, Cecil
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2010
ISBN: 9789545060790

Rose doesn’t want to be a loner; the trouble is she hasn’t figured out how to fit in. Daisy, her best friend since childhood, dropped her the minute Rose decided to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer. The loss of the friendship has left Rose feeling confused, lonely and disconnected with life.

“I was black inside and so I took everything black.
Toast.
Coffee.
Clothes.
Heart.”

Cecil Castellucci’s opening lines paint the picture quite clearly.

Rose is looking for a fresh at the High School of Performing Art. For her, there are only two states of being: on pointe – in a heightened world where she could be herself, and in sneakers – where she is nothing. She’s hoping that by pursuing her passion she’ll meet new friends on the same wavelength. She sees plenty of interesting people from school on the subway every morning, but admires them from a distance. But so far friendship hasn’t happened, and even though she’s trying as hard as she can, she’s pretty sure her dancing isn’t where it needs to be, either.

Things begin to shift with a random invitation from two triplets, Caitlin and Callisto, to a party at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Actually attending the party seems farfetched to Rose until her neighbor, a Russian ballerina named Yrena, climbs into her bedroom window, looking to escape from the suffocating confines of home and establish friendship with a real American girl and do real American things, like go to a “big American party” and see what “teenage American decadence” is really like. Rose doesn’t want to be a mouse forever, so she takes the plunge into adventure with Yrena, sneaking back out the window with her, past the KGB guards that monitor Yrena’s every move, out into the big city.

The party at the museum begins with a confrontation with Daisy, but Rose holds her ground because she’s finally got backup. The arrival of all three triplets and other friends from school, including superstar Maurice Tibbets, and Free, the long-haired peace-loving activist, creates a group that is swept up in roaming the city by night, only to later find themselves desperately trying to rediscover Yrena’s whereabouts when she disappears with Free.

As the hours tick by, the hunt to find Yrena ends, and she discloses that this is her final chance to experience all that New York City has to offer before she moves back to Russia for good. The group of dancers throws caution to the wind, staying out all night to show her everything they can in the few hours they have left. Rose discovers friendship, romance, and just how lucky she is to live in a free country while she finds the true color of her heart and how to let it rule her life and her dancing.

Title: Dancer
Author: Lorri Hewett
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books
Ages: 12 and up
ISBN: 0525459685

Sixteen-year-old ballerina Stephanie lives for ballet, and dreams of a future as a professional dancer in New York. However, her parents think she ought to get serious about planning for college. Stephanie begins to wonder if she has what it takes or if there is room for black ballerinas in the spotlight when a new Russian student steals the lead role in the school performance.

Help arrives in the form of a self-appointed mentor, Miss Winnie, who once studied with the founder of the Dance Theater of Harlem. Miss Winnie sees promise in Stephanie, and works to help her succeed. Miss Winnie’s nephew, Vance, a talented but unmotivated dancer, becomes her dance partner and potentially more.

Author: Marilyn Nelson illustrator: Susan Kuklin
Title: Beautiful Ballerina
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2009
Ages: 4-8
ISBN: 9780545089203

Written by Newberry Honor winner Marilyn Nelson, Beautiful Ballerina is a visual and lyrical celebration of ballerinas. Every page of Nelson’s flowing poetry is accompanied by bright, colorful photographs of young ballerinas from the Dance Theater of Harlem’s school. Tiny ballerinas stretch, point their toes, and mimic the older ballerinas as they fly through the air in grand jetes or balance en point. Every step captured by the camera was professionally choreographed by Endalyn Taylor, the Director of Dance Theater of Harlem. Words and poses are equally inspiring for a variety of readers, from young dancers to adult aficionados.

Title: to dance: a ballerina’s graphic novel
Author: Siena Cherson Siegel, Illustrator: Mark Siegel
Ages:8-12
Publisher: Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 2006
ISBN: 978-0689867477

The world of a young ballerina springs to life on the pages of this colorful, gripping tale. Each page details the daily routines, thoughts, and dreams of a dancer as she moves to New York City to study at the School of American Ballet.

A fantastic read for anyone who loves ballet and wonders what the life of a dancer is like, the graphic novel format makes the story all the more real. George Balanchine, partnering class, pointe shoes, schoolwork, and the hum of New York are only part of the picture. In the end, the love of dance is what shines through.

Rich with descriptions of traditional African dance, costumes, body painting and spirituality, it is both visually appealing and extremely informative. This book is recommended reading for anyone with interest in African dance, music and spirituality as well and dance teachers and school teachers.
Learn about how dance traditions are passed down, the origins of different types of dances, types of musical instruments and more.

Title: Meet the Dancers: From Ballet, Broadway and Beyond
Author: Amy Nathan
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co., 2008
ISBN: 978-0805080711

Meet the Dancers is inspirational reading for any young aspiring dancer. Sixteen intimate and informative profiles of working dancers are illustrated with engaging photographs, and personal trivia and tidbits.

The book was specifically created for the 9-12 crowd, but is a fun read for anyone interested in what the life of a professional dancer is like.

Title: A Dictionary of Dance
Author: Liz Murray
Ages: 9-12
Publisher: Blue Apple Books, 2007
ISBN: 978-1593546137

Learning to dance means learning an entire new language, and this book covers the dance ABC’s, from arabesque to zones. Colorful, expressive line drawings add a dynamic, playful quality that makes learning fun.