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To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel by Siena Cherson Siegel

Summary

Siena starts dancing as a way to cure her flat feet but soon dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer. Beginning with classes in her hometown, a few years later Siena is accepted into the School of American Ballet in New York City. Siena works toward her dream despite injuries and the disintegration of her parents’ marriage. Classes and rehearsals fill her days and Siena dances small parts with very famous ballet dancers. Told in graphic novel format, the illustrations and text in this autobiography detail the hard work and disappointments of a dancer, as well as bring to life the joy and magic of a ballet performance.

Booktalk

Do you have a big dream about something you want to do when you grow up? Is there someone here who wants to be a top athlete? A doctor? A musician? An actor or a singer? A lawyer? How about a teacher? Well, when Siena was a little girl she decided she wanted to become a dancer. Not a tap dancer or jazz or hip-hop. Not the ballroom kind of dancing you see on TV. (turn as if waltzing with a partner) No, Siena wanted to be a ballet dancer. Not even her friends could understand that – baaalllleeeet? But Siena saw this magnificent ballet about a dying swan – and the dancer was so good she actually seemed to become the swan onstage. Siena told her parents, "I want to dance like that!"

So, Siena took ballet class in Boston, and went to more classes when her family moved back to the island of Puerto Rico, but the best ballet school was waiting for her in New York City. Luckily her family had the ways and means to move there, and soon Siena was going to regular school during the day and a special ballet school in the afternoons. This is her dream – to be a great ballerina. But following a dream like this isn’t going to be easy. Just like wanting to be an actor or a pro athlete or a lawyer, working to become a great dancer takes a lot of hard work and will mean pain and many disappointments.

Now friends told me, "Oh, you have to read this book!"
And I said, "What’s it about?"
And they said, "Ballet dancing."
And I said, "Well I don’t really like ballet dancing…" (make a face like you just ate something yucky)
But then I started reading the book and got hooked. It’s a true story about a real girl and I just had to find out what happened to her. And I think you will too!
Read about a girl who just wants to dance – in To Dance: A ballerina’s graphic novel.

59 pages, 4th grade and up

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. The doctor says that dancing won’t correct Siena’s flat feet, but her mom finds lessons for her anyway. Why do you think she did that? Has there been a time in your life when you tried something that other people said wouldn’t work?
  2. Have you ever been inspired by something or somebody you saw in a movie, on TV, or in a book? What dreams do you have for your future?
  3. Why was it important for Siena to be accepted as a student in the School of American Ballet? What were they looking for at the audition? Can you remember when you’ve had audition or take a test to get onto a team or into a school or be part of another activity?
  4. Siena’s family moves to a new city and she starts at two new schools: one for regular classes, one for ballet. None of her old friends are there. How do you think she felt about that? Are there both good and bad things about moving and changing schools?
  5. Siena’s parents fight a lot, but being with her brother Adam always makes her feel better. Who makes you feel better when times are tough?
  6. Siena loves to dance, but classes and rehearsals aren’t always fun. What are some of the hard parts of dancing that happen to Siena?
  7. Siena takes dance classes during the day, goes to rehearsals, and performs. She has a barre at home for practicing in her bedroom. She doesn’t have much time for outside friends or interests. Have you ever been totally devoted to one sport or interest?
  8. At Lincoln Center Siena performs in front of thousands of people. She is very nervous as she waits to go on stage. When have you felt nervous about speaking or performing in front of a crowd?
  9. Siena is a dancer and her big brother is a musician. They both have talent in the arts. Who in your family shares the same interests or talents?
  10. For many years Siena spent hours each day in dance class. How do you think she felt when she left the ballet school and went to college? Have you ever had to stop doing something you loved?

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Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, Reading Promotions Coordinator