Shadow Dancing

Shadow Dancing, Nancy Pinard, Disc-Us Books, 2000

Emma Kate Thomas is a teenage ballet dancer at a small Midwest conservatory, when, one day, she is asked to come to New York, and join the ballet company of Daniel Laval, world-renowned director. Daniel even puts Emma in his advanced class, bypassing the usual route.

What Emma thinks is the fast track to stardom becomes a tango as three different men vie to be her partner, each of them wanting something from her. Emma develops a sort of support network of people at the female-only boarding house where she is living. Leelee is a Jewish university student with a story of her own; there are also two elderly immigrant women at the boarding house; one of whom spends some time at Bellevue Hospital (not by choice).

Daniel is an eccentric, demanding type who tells Emma to lose a couple of pounds, and gives her the stage name of Marie ("Emma" isn't sophisticated enough for ballet?) After an awkward incident with Daniel in the elevator, she is suddenly demoted to the beginner's class.

Emma is asked to learn a special ballet to atonal oriental music by Bobby Duquesne, another of the company's directors, with whom Emma has a much easier time than with Daniel. The company goes on a three-month tour of small northeastern college campuses, a thoroughly forgettable experience for Emma.

This story is intended for a specific age group. It's recommended for young women or budding ballet dancers. Those not in the target area, like yours truly, a forty-something male, will still like this book. It might take some effort on the part of the reader, but it's worth the time.