Dance While You Can: On Relationships, Feelings and Family

by Shirley MacLaine

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In her most revealing memoir yet, Shirely Maclaine shares deeply personal stories about her her parents, her brother, and her only daughter—and about her life in the movies over four decades.“On the deepest, most personal level, I needed to work out who my parents were and what they had been to me. I knew that I couldn’t get on with my work and the rest of my life until I had.”—Shirley MacLaine An extraordinary woman whose energy, drive, and talent are legendary, Shirley MacLaine still moves audiences to laughter and tears. Recalling the powerful family influences that propelled both her and her brother, Warren Beatty, to stardom, she considers the effect of her own career on her relationship with her daughter, Sachi. And writing about her friendships with such Hollywood stars as Robert Mitchum, Ava Gardner, Dean Martin, Elizabeth Taylor, and Debbie Reynolds, she contrasts the golden days of the film business with the different world of moviemaking today.   But Dance While You Can is more than a memoir—it is an unforgettable glimpse into a woman’s soul. Writing with candor and emotion, Shirley explores her complex feelings about success and failure, love and loneliness, the constant pressure to re-create herself in her work, and the challenge of balancing her search for self-awareness with the difficulties of sustaining her closest relationships.   Illustrated with thirty-two pages of personal photos—many never before published—here is a rich, revealing look at a remarkable woman in the prime of her life. Frank, often funny, and always entertaining, this is Shirley at her best.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Spirituality

291 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Shirley MacLaine is an actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed, and eccentric women, she has received numerous accolades over her seven-decade career, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, six Golden Globes, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Apart from acting, MacLaine has written numerous books regarding the subjects of metaphysics, spirituality, and reincarnation, as well as a New York Times bestselling memoir, Out On a Limb.

Reviews

[Dele Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's official, I have now read all of Shirley Maclaine's books. I've always enjoyed how she takes her readers along on her journey into self-discovery. This book takes place in the late 1990's. Shirley is shooting "Postcards From the Edge" where she play an aging actress who has had a difficult relationship with her daughter. This roles gives her a chance to explore her own relationship with her daughter, Sachi. This relationship has been rocky because Sachi was raised in Japan by her father.
Shirley also examines her relationship with her parents, individuals that she felt were very talented, but chose not to pursue the arts. MacLaine felt that her mother forgoes a career in acting for the sake of her family, yet never failed to let them forget it. It was because of her mother's chose that she was so aggressive in pursuit of her own goals.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If Miss Maclaine writes any more books, I'll read them too. She is not afraid to explore what makes herself tick and to share her explorations with her readers.

[Giddy Girlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another mindless thrift store grab. I love wacky Shirley Maclaine, although I think you have to LOVE her to get through this whole book.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lika detaljrik och insiktsfull som hennes tidigare böcker, om livet och familjerelationer. För mig som läst alla hennes tidigare böcker, har denna lite av upprepningskänsla. Men det är motiverat. Mycket av boken rör de tveeggade känslor som uppstod i kontrasten mellan andligt sökande och den egna karriären i rampljuset. Fram till insikten att "Konsten är den lögn som blottar sanningen" (tydligen ett Picasso-citat.) Shirley MacLaine kunde slappna av när hon insåg att den illusion hon skapar, blottade sanningen för varje åskådare, så som var och en väljer att tolka den. Alla har vi våra egna sanningar och insikter att ta till oss. Skådespelare, konstnärer, författare, alla kan vara katalysatorer för sin publik.

[kvazimodla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Shirley and I liked her ruminations on life. Still, really too heavy on the navel-gazing. Mea culpa for not understanding that her books are primarily about her spiritual journey (such as she sees it) - and that is far from my cup of tea.

[C Clack · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love her as an actress, but just cannot get into the ongoing mumbo jumbo of her books. Not reading more from her pen.

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of boring, meandering blab about herself, but some interesting insights about the celebrity personality.

[Katherine Loyacano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dance While You Can is a memoir by Shirley MacLaine at a period in her life when she decides to return to her dance roots and to go on tour with a new stage show. She is 57 years old, excited and nervous about the prospect of performing again for live audiences while also reflecting on her relationships with her parents and daughter Sachi.

This memoir is a candid view of MacLaine’s thoughts about some of the films she worked on and fellow actors she worked with over the years as well as the trials and triumphs of returning to the stage at an an older age. I found all of that interesting as an actor myself. I knew very little about Shirley MacLaine, so I enjoyed learning that she started her career as a dancer, how she made it to Hollywood, and about her personal life and her relationships with her parents and daughter. Although I love her performances in both Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias, I have not seen many of MacLaine’s films. After reading this memoir, I’d like to watch some of her earlier movies.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good read. She wrote her, at the time, current situation regarding her health and work life. She discussed her changing relationships with her mother, daughter, and friends. She discussed the effects of aging broadly- and focuses on the big picture. Eloquent wording, down to earth and relatable story-telling, with enough just name dropping to be entertaining- I recommend this book for old Hollywood and all Shirley fans. I loved and appreciated her honesty regarding her changing distastes and her affection for her Ouiser character.

[Ali Crighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first quarter of the book was really interesting - Shirley speaks about her spiritual journey, disordered eating and family relationships etc. in a really insightful way. I found it personally quite relatable.

The second half of the book is not so interesting, she rambles on a little bit. There is a lot to learn from Shirley but I think it could be translated in a more concise and direct way as opposed to back and forthing from random info about other celebrities to personal insights and questioning.

I enjoyed the honesty of the book and I like the way Shirley thinks.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was written around 1990. Shirley explores the relationships of her mother and father and how they reflect her professional life on the stage and in the movies. I thought it was very sweet how she talks about her mom and dad as well as her daughter Sachi. The later portion of the book goes into a knee injury and surgery and rehab while reflecting on the possibility of a deeper meaning to it all. I loved this book. Very insightful and very easy to read and relate to. I looked forward to sitting and reading a little at a time.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story from Shirley Maclain. She never gave up until succeeded. Thumbs up for her discipline. Stories from movie making, her theatre performances, relationships with her daughter, Sachi, and also the memory of her parents. Her parent’s insistence that perseverance is necessary to accomplishment.

[Aria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf p. 28. Utterly self-absorbed, she is. Dry writing. No depth. I'm over it.

[Glida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every page. Witty and full of thought provoking phrases

[Natalie Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Shirley's better books, a good mix of Hollywood and her career and her personal relationship with her family.

[Mynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another keeper! I would like to read this again!!

[Kei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pulled this book completely at random from this house that I am currently staying in on Martha's Vineyard. Everyone in the house was asleep and I was doing my best not to make noise even though all the walls are paper thin. I love dancing and have always loved the quote "dance like no one is watching" so I was drawn to the title. Sorry Shirley, but the cover of this book is horrendous, still I continued to open the book. It read 'Chapter 5: Sachi'. Sachi? That was the name of our first dog, meaning 'happy' in Japanese. I was intrigued...I ended up reading all of chapter 5 and then went back to start at chapter one, where she was driving down the Ventura Freeway at 5am to beat traffic(hmmm, I know that feeling). I could not put the book down! This definitely became one of those experiences where each chapter became more and more relevant to the current state of my life. Shirley Mclaine was 56 when she wrote this book. I had no idea she even wrote books. And, I had NO idea that she was so adept in the areas of metaphysics, meditation and such.

So what did we take from her life experiences? We are all a product of our parents. And the only way to truly come into our own is to accept them, accept ourselves, and ultimately...we must forgive! She was able to maintain a great balance of entertaining the reader with glamorous hollywood tales while further grounding us in her spiritual approaches to life and its lessons.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book deals with two different times in Shirley's entertainment life. The book opens with her filming the movie "Postcards From The Edge". Shirley talks about knowing Debby Reynolds who her character is based on and during this half of the book, she looks back at her own relationship with her mother and also with her daughter Sachi. There is an over dramatized rendition of her using her "acting" skills to board a plane that was already pulling away from the gate so she could be at Sachi's side during an operation. I found it very hard to make it through this half of the book and almost gave up but I read on.

The second half of the book was much better for me and I enjoyed it so much more. Shirley is in the process of going on a tour with her dance and music numbers. She also talks about her father and their relationship. Due to many accidents and other obstacles, Shirley's tour keeps getting pushed further and further back which actually gives her time to heal and reflect on her goals. Also in this part of the book, Shirley and Sachi go back to Japan and there is references to Shirley's husband and why they divorced.

One of the things I really enjoyed was the four sections of photos.

[Tristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I inherited an old wizard's book collection and he has every single Shirley Maclaine book, so I've been slowly working my way through them all. This book is all about her time in Hollywood and it's full of gossip about the old stars of the 50's and 60's. She talks a lot about how the "Hollywood Star" machine has changed over the years and if that's your bag, this is a fascinating read. I really feel bad for her daughter Sachi. This book begins to touch on what an absent, narcissist, self-absorbed mother Shirley Maclaine really is and it's amazing how blind she is when it comes to facing that fact.

[vicki lee zell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally

Shirley says it all and says it as it is. Honesty is the only policy we humans should aspire to. Her life certainly has been a fun filled ride. Kudos to a great lady and thanks for the memories.

[Nika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really an acting book. But it did help me in my performing arts endevours. Made me realize to do things while I could and to not procrastinate.

[Jimena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Escrito por Shirley Maclaine. La autobiografía de una vida dedicada al espectáculo. Me encantó!

[Джорджия · Rating 2 out of 5]

Има добри моменти, но цялостно книгата ми е отнесена...

[Ruju23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

extremely boring and depressing..didnt have the heart to read till the end!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

great

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-fiction. Her brother is Warren Beatty. Talks about how her parents and upbringing shaped her and her life.

[Liana M Coombs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent