Siena Cherson Siegel

In this graphic memoir, Siena Cherson Siegal tells her own story in dance, being drawn to it and seeing it everywhere. Growing up in Peurto Rico, her doctor didn't think Siena could dance because of her flat feet, but her mother let her try. Starting classes at 6, Siena recounts her inspiration watching and reading about dance and early dance experiences. The handwork and effort are punctuated with places, ballets, and people any dance lover is sure to recognize. The abrupt ending with show more sparse illustrations make the reader feel the absence of dance in Siena's life after her ankle injury.

The airy illustrations by Mark Siegel are full of movement. Ribbons twist and twine throughout the story connecting ideas and carrying the story forward. The small, routine practice illustrations are contrasted by the vibrant dance performance sequences.

**Sibert Honor Book show less

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel by Siena Cherson Siegel is another memoir told in the format of a graphic novel. As more and more nonfiction is finding voice in paneled artwork and lettering, there should be a term for them that doesn't imply fiction.

Siena Cherson Siegel when she as a young child had flat feet. Her mother was desperate to do anything to get them fixed. She turned to ballet as a way to perhaps exercise her daughter's feet into the right shape. Long story short, the show more dancing worked. It also became a life long passion for her.

Along with the ballet, To Dance, is about Siena's move from Cuba to New York. There she went to ballet school and eventually danced with the New York Ballet. All of that is laid out, while avoiding the oft-times unhealthy body image aspects of professional ballet.

I read this memoir originally when my daughter was taking ballet. At the tender age of six, she already started becoming aware of the extreme dieting that some dancers do to stay slim. She also didn't want to give up all of her other hobbies to focus solely on dancing to qualify for team competitions. So now as I write this review, she has given up ballet for two other sports: swimming and bowling. show less

To Dance tells the familiar story of a young girl, in this case Siena when she was a child, who wants to grow up to be a ballerina. She starts ballet lessons, shows a real talent, and makes it to New York City where she trains in a feeder school for a big ballet company, in this case New York City Ballet’s School of American Ballet, where she is discovered. Mark Siegel’s illustrations allow the reader to share in Siena’s wonder and sometimes confusion with this whole new world in which show more she finds herself. He is also a kind of translator for the “uninitiated” in ballet lore and jargon, providing illustrations and examples of being en pointe and or dancing a pas de deux to name a few. For this reason, the format of the graphic novel works very well here. It elevates the reading level beyond that of a picture book without wordy explanations that detract from the story. Those who are more familiar with ballet will find the illustrations amusing and beautiful with gorgeous renditions of the varying levels of ballet classes and some “cameo appearances” of the big names of the New York City Ballet in the 1970’s to early 1980’s.

This basic story has been told many times. Two examples that jump out from my reading history are Ballerina Dreams, an easy reader by New York City Ballet’s Diana White and Gelsey Kirkland’s only-for-grown-ups memoir, Dancing on My Grave. The big difference between these books and To Dance, aside from format, is that even those well-versed in the recent and current ballet world will not recognize the name Siena Cherson Siegel; she is not a ballerina. As chronicled in this graphic novel, Siegel dances in a few performances with the New York City Ballet in pre-professional roles, but then goes on to attend college at Brown and dance for her own enjoyment rather than dance professionally. The ending to this story is very rarely told, though much more common. To Dance emphasizes how dance can mold one’s life while at the same time, showing how Siena takes the time to be a “normal” kid as well as positively showing her choice not to dance professionally. By sharing her story in To Dance, Siegel is affirming anyone who wants to use anything that they are talented at or simply enjoy as a hobby, an enjoyment, rather than a career choice. For this reason, along with the beauty of the illustrations and Siegel’s writing, I highly recommend this book.

Book source: Birthday present, years ago, from Nanna. :) show less

(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through Goodreads' Early Reviewers program.)

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Siena Cherson Siegel first discovered her love of dance as a seven-year-old, frolicking on the beaches on San Juan. Next came several years of ballet classes, an audition at the prestigious School of American Ballet, and the family's relocation to New York City, so Siena could pursue her passion.

Well, partial show more relocation; her older brother, Adam, was already attending school in Massachusetts, and her father maintained a home in San Juan, rarely visiting Siena and her mother in NY. Unsurprisingly, the couple would divorce years later. In addition to instilling her with confidence, strength, and a sense of purpose, ballet helped pull Siena through some of the darker periods of her life, including childhood bullying and her parents' contentious relationship.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/51793876912/

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Then an injury sidelines Siena just as her future looks its brightest. Though her ankle slowly recovers, she's beset by doubt and insecurity. As beautiful as ballet is, Siena starts to wonder if it's worth the tremendous price it demands of its stars. When she finally makes the difficult decision to quit, Siena must forge a new path in a forest of seemingly endless possibilities.

There's a lot to love in TINY DANCER. Even though I'm not really a fan, Cherson Siegel does a commendable job of conveying the allure, artistry, and promise of ballet. Her descriptions are at times breathtaking, and are complemented nicely by Mark Siegel's illustrations (rendered whimsically in shades of purple - my favorite!).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/51793876872/

I had hoped to find more inspiration in her journey, perhaps because I've been feeling rather aimless and adrift myself. For whatever reason, though, her injury and subsequent comeback never felt that high stakes to me. Maybe it was because she was so young, with her entire life ahead of her, and her parents (well, mother) supported her and presented her with a ton of options? (Spoiler alert: Cherson Siegel ended up attending college, and I don't think she even graduated that much later in life than if it'd been her expected path all along?) TINY DANCER just failed to inspire and captivate me the way I thought it would, though I suspect that young athletes and ballet aficionados may get more out of Cherson Siegel's story. show less