Joel Lobenthal

Lobenthal has written an incredibly detailed history of Patricia Wilde and the creation of the New York Ballet Company. Detailed enough that it can be a bit slow-going at times, especially if you're not well versed in ballet terminology. Wilde was amazingly talented and did so much at such a young age. Reading about her life makes me wish I had taken ballet, even if I'd never be able to accomplish all that she did.

I love ballet memoirs/biographies, and I'll read any of them that have to do with Balanchine/City Ballet, so this book was a no-brainer for me. Patricia Wilde was a Balanchine ballerina, a great dancer, but one without all of the insane drama that colored the careers of dancers like Suzanne Farrell and Gelsey Kirkland. Because her career was touched by somewhat less controversy than other dancers, her biography is perhaps a bit less exciting than other ballet books. Nevertheless, it offers a show more fascinating glimpse into an elite ballet life. it also provides a lot of information about Balanchine and the founding of the New York City Ballet, and it is valuable for that alone. It is a well-written and interesting account that spends a lot of time on other figures in the City Ballet world. show less

Engagingly written and even-handed treatment of a scandal-ridden and misunderstood figure. If anything, a little *too* even-handed in its attempt to avoid a salacious slant... only one passing mention of Patsy Kelly? But it's a great study of the woman's demons and motivations, well-grounded in the cultural, theatrical & cinematic environments in which she rampaged, flourished, entertained and ultimately did herself in.

This was not what I was anticipating. I have been a ballet fan since I could walk and thought I was interested in every aspect of it. However, after reading this strange story of Wilde, Balanchine, and a few other dancers, I am not even sure of I have gained any more knowledge about the art of dance than I did before. The stories involved never seemed to intertwine and I felt I was reading more about the travel and loved affairs than about the dancing. It was very well written, just not show more about the actual subject of dancing on a level i expected. show less