Bunheads by Sophie Flack
Atom, 2012. ISBN 9781907411274.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. This is an entertaining story about 19 year
old ballet dancer, Hannah Ward. As a youngster she dreamed of being
a ballerina, leaving home at the tender age of 14 to become a member
of the Manhattan Ballet Company. Hannah knows all too well the
rigours of the ballet dancer's life: the many hours of rehearsal,
the nightly performances, not to mention the hours in the gym,
toning and strengthening the body. Whilst many of the performers
have a shared history - having joined the company as young teens -
they are nevertheless all competing for similar roles, particularly
the coveted solo. Competition is fierce, discipline is vital.
This is brought into sharp focus for Hannah when she meets Jacob
Cohen, a musician and college student. Sophie's commitment to her
ballet career prevents them from spending much time together and she
becomes increasingly aware of what she is giving up in her
dedication to dance. Sophie realises that most girls her age are at
college, spreading their wings, having fun at parties; she rues the
fact that even though she has lived in New York for the last five
years she really doesn't know the city - having had little spare
time to explore beyond the boundaries of the theatre where she
rehearses and performs seemingly all year round.
As a former ballet dancer herself, the author (Sophie Flack) clearly
has first-hand experience of the trials and tribulations as well as
the joys of dance. And she presents a warm and well-rounded portrait
of Hannah and her fellow ballet dancers. We see both the dedication
that is needed to perform at the highest level but also the rewards;
the joy of soaring as a ballerina, the thrill of performance.
Lovers of ballet are sure to enjoy this novel with its frequent use
of dancing terminology but equally, those who do not have a dance
background will enjoy the human story behind the dance: the struggle
to find one's place in the world and the courage needed to change
tack.
Deborah Marshall