Book Review: To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel

To Dance, a Ballerina’s Graphic Novel, is a memoir written by Siena Cherson Siegel, with artwork by Mark Siegel. It is a delightfully written and depicts the story of a young girl’s coming of age in the world of ballet. The graphic novel begins, “Big empty spaces make me want to dance…” and continues to tell the story of how a little girl who was told she had flat feet overcame and lived her dream to dance.

The artwork is beautifully told as the story of an up-and-coming ballerina. From her first audition in New York City to exploring the New York State Theatre, Siegel tells her story with a marvelous poignancy that is enhanced by exceptional artwork. This is a true story that will tug at your heart strings. Through some of the heartbreak of her personal life (the death of a beloved teacher and her parents’ divorce), dance was the driving force of her life. The venue chosen to tell her story is a bit odd (ballet and a graphic novel) and I admit that, at first, I was a bit skeptical. But from the first words and pictures, I was drawn into a world I have only dreamed about. Every little girl wants to be a princess, in my opinion, and if not a princess, a ballerina (I know I did). Every little girl does not get to be these things, but this book shares the experience of one little girl who worked very hard and grew up to be just that - a graceful ballerina amidst the magic of the stage in New York City. Even if this is not your area of expertise, you will find this story to be enchanting. I highly recommend giving this story a read, even you are not a fan of graphic novels or even if you do not have experience in ballet. This is every girl’s dream, come to life in wonderful art, the life of Siena Cherson Siegel.