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Dancer
Ballet is the most important thing in Stephanie's life. But the reality of dance is tough, and Stephanie's parents fear that she doesn't realize how few opportunities there are for black ballerinas. Then, the remarkable Miss Winnie and her handsome and talented nephew, Vance, show up in ballet class one day. Miss Winnie, a glamorous retired ballerina, takes Stephanie on as a pupil and gives her the encouragement she needs. And Stephanie begins to discover a different kind of love . . . and a different understanding of what's important.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
10 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Lorri Hewett
6 books7 followersLorri was born in Fairfax, Virginia, but spent most of her childhood in Littleton, Colorado.
Her childhood was for the most part idyllic and uneventful, her father was a system analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and her mother stayed home with Lorri and her younger brother Derek.
Lorri was a highly imaginative kid, spending hours in the imaginary worlds she created from the many books she read. One of her favorite things to do was to write herself into her favorite stories, altering the stories so that instead of Laura Ingalls, Charles-Wallace Murray, Luke Skywalker, or Indiana Jones, she was the principle heroine.
All through her early years at school she was the difficult child, the one who was smart but didn’t apply herself, was continually challenging authority, and constantly daydreaming. Her first serious try to write was at the age of 9. She got the inspiration for the novel from the Little House on the Prairie series. The novel, titled Carlton’s Life, consisted of about 140 pages detailing the adventures of 6-year-old Wendy Carlton, who was not only a pioneer braving the ravages of the Florida winters in 1843 (at that point Lorri didn’t know much about geography), but also a religious zealot (as in Joan of Arc).
At this time Lorri became seriously involved in ballet training, which made a nice compliment to her writing because in ballet she was able to develop the discipline that would allow her to sustain long writing projects. The first major event in her life occurred when she was eleven and her Aunt Ginger died of cancer. Her parents then took in her eight year old cousin Darnel, and the family had to adjust to having a new member. The change was made even more difficult because Darnel’s biological father, learning that Darnel was to be the recipient of his mother’s life insurance policy, sued the court for custody of Darnel. The next two years were very difficult emotionally and financially for the family, as social workers and lawyers became a regular guest on family life.
Whereas writing had been mainly an amusement before, writing stories became therapeutic and a source of escapism. Her characters began to resemble human beings instead of fantastical adventurers. Although she had in junior high school become a part of the ‘bad crowd,’ her attraction to this crowd was their anger and their rebelliousness. They provided her with a window of observation into the world of teenagers that she had read about in S.E. Hinton books and that she was not, by her relative comfort and her stable family life, a part of.
In these years she was playing the role of counselor to her friends, helping them through parental crises, substance abuse problems, eating disorders, and
Sexual victimization. All of these experiences gave her new ideas for writing. She now became committed to the idea of recording the problems that she saw around her with people her age in a realistic way. Writing was still, however, an extremely private thing for Lorri. Aside from her best friend from childhood Lyda Acker, no one, not even her parents, knew to the extent to which writing was an important part of her life. Her most productive writing period was in her high school years, in which she wrote nine novels.
Her high school years were her most difficult years, because that was when she began to feel alienated. Being ‘different,’ being the only black student in her classes, living in a middle-class neighborhood had never before been problematic for her because she had always been in many ways a leader, someone other kids could look up to. Once she reached high school, being a leader was no longer enough for her. She knew that there was something more to her identity than she was seeing in her daily life. She had no real access to black organizations, had no black friends. Her first thought to deal with this new dilemma for her was to throw herself even more into activities.
At this time bal
Her childhood was for the most part idyllic and uneventful, her father was a system analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and her mother stayed home with Lorri and her younger brother Derek.
Lorri was a highly imaginative kid, spending hours in the imaginary worlds she created from the many books she read. One of her favorite things to do was to write herself into her favorite stories, altering the stories so that instead of Laura Ingalls, Charles-Wallace Murray, Luke Skywalker, or Indiana Jones, she was the principle heroine.
All through her early years at school she was the difficult child, the one who was smart but didn’t apply herself, was continually challenging authority, and constantly daydreaming. Her first serious try to write was at the age of 9. She got the inspiration for the novel from the Little House on the Prairie series. The novel, titled Carlton’s Life, consisted of about 140 pages detailing the adventures of 6-year-old Wendy Carlton, who was not only a pioneer braving the ravages of the Florida winters in 1843 (at that point Lorri didn’t know much about geography), but also a religious zealot (as in Joan of Arc).
At this time Lorri became seriously involved in ballet training, which made a nice compliment to her writing because in ballet she was able to develop the discipline that would allow her to sustain long writing projects. The first major event in her life occurred when she was eleven and her Aunt Ginger died of cancer. Her parents then took in her eight year old cousin Darnel, and the family had to adjust to having a new member. The change was made even more difficult because Darnel’s biological father, learning that Darnel was to be the recipient of his mother’s life insurance policy, sued the court for custody of Darnel. The next two years were very difficult emotionally and financially for the family, as social workers and lawyers became a regular guest on family life.
Whereas writing had been mainly an amusement before, writing stories became therapeutic and a source of escapism. Her characters began to resemble human beings instead of fantastical adventurers. Although she had in junior high school become a part of the ‘bad crowd,’ her attraction to this crowd was their anger and their rebelliousness. They provided her with a window of observation into the world of teenagers that she had read about in S.E. Hinton books and that she was not, by her relative comfort and her stable family life, a part of.
In these years she was playing the role of counselor to her friends, helping them through parental crises, substance abuse problems, eating disorders, and
Sexual victimization. All of these experiences gave her new ideas for writing. She now became committed to the idea of recording the problems that she saw around her with people her age in a realistic way. Writing was still, however, an extremely private thing for Lorri. Aside from her best friend from childhood Lyda Acker, no one, not even her parents, knew to the extent to which writing was an important part of her life. Her most productive writing period was in her high school years, in which she wrote nine novels.
Her high school years were her most difficult years, because that was when she began to feel alienated. Being ‘different,’ being the only black student in her classes, living in a middle-class neighborhood had never before been problematic for her because she had always been in many ways a leader, someone other kids could look up to. Once she reached high school, being a leader was no longer enough for her. She knew that there was something more to her identity than she was seeing in her daily life. She had no real access to black organizations, had no black friends. Her first thought to deal with this new dilemma for her was to throw herself even more into activities.
At this time bal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 12, 2008
The book Dancer is an amazing book. It talks about a girl, Stephanie, who doesn't get the lead part in Sleeping Beauty at her dance studio. Soon she stops believing in herself, until she meets the most wonderful person in her life, Miss Winnie. Miss Winnie intorduced Stephianie to her gorgeous nephew, Vance, who also happens to be a dancer. They start taking private lessons from Miss Winnie and soon Stephanie starts falling for Vance. The only thing Stephanie is leaving out is reality. Can she have the two worlds of dance and life collide?
May 3, 2018
Three stars for what I got out of this but four for overall quality. It's a little sad to read this and think how much hasn't changed in the almost twenty years since this was published: there are a very few prominent black ballerinas now, but as a black dancer whose family doesn't have much money, a 2018 version of Stephanie would still have to face a reality of a whitewhitewhite dance world in which being good enough wouldn't be good enough. A 2018 version of Stephanie would probably still be dancing in pale pink toe shoes, too. This isn't a criticism of either the book or the author, obviously, but it means that there's more urgency to Stephanie's parents' request that she look beyond dance for her future.
It's nice to see the balance of elements here: the emphasis is on dance, followed by race, but we also see bits of romance and competition and class and fitting in and friendship and growing up. I'm glad this one's still on the library shelves.
It's nice to see the balance of elements here: the emphasis is on dance, followed by race, but we also see bits of romance and competition and class and fitting in and friendship and growing up. I'm glad this one's still on the library shelves.
January 27, 2020
Wonderful book for everyone, especially young girls! It is very inspiring and eye opening!
June 12, 2025
Read for my Fifty States of Reading Challenge for the state of Colorado.
Dancer is an engrossing, well written YA novel whose topic remains relevant even today, despite it being published in 1999. The amount of knowledge and research the author has on ballet really shines through on the pages. However, as it was published in 1999, it does have some scenes that promote disordered eating. The main character often chooses to eat less food than she probably needs, and is told to loose a few pounds. Striving for the stick thin “ballet body” is definitely a key point. The author does challenge some of these ideas, having the main character feel sympathy for a girl in her class that has an eating disorder, and having a ballet dancer with a larger body, but that’s not a main point of the book, and these challenges to the main character’s beliefs on weight pale in comparison to the amount of disparaging comments made about weight and food. This ideology is par for the course when it comes to performance arts, as well as the time period in which this was written, but it is definitely something to be aware of and have a conversation with younger people reading this book today. Overall, this was not a bad read, and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to delve into what it means to be a Black dancer.
Dancer is an engrossing, well written YA novel whose topic remains relevant even today, despite it being published in 1999. The amount of knowledge and research the author has on ballet really shines through on the pages. However, as it was published in 1999, it does have some scenes that promote disordered eating. The main character often chooses to eat less food than she probably needs, and is told to loose a few pounds. Striving for the stick thin “ballet body” is definitely a key point. The author does challenge some of these ideas, having the main character feel sympathy for a girl in her class that has an eating disorder, and having a ballet dancer with a larger body, but that’s not a main point of the book, and these challenges to the main character’s beliefs on weight pale in comparison to the amount of disparaging comments made about weight and food. This ideology is par for the course when it comes to performance arts, as well as the time period in which this was written, but it is definitely something to be aware of and have a conversation with younger people reading this book today. Overall, this was not a bad read, and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to delve into what it means to be a Black dancer.
May 26, 2012
Dancer by Lorri Hewett is about a young girl named Stephanie whose big dream is to become a professional ballerina. Disapproved by her parents, Stephanie strives to accomplish her goal and dream of what she really wants to do in life. From high school drama to making new friends, Stephanie realizes that there is more to life than dreaming big. Stephanie's determination, brightness and intelligence helps her get towards one step to her goal as being a professional ballerina.
My first reaction was "Wow". This book was amazing! It was so inspiring! This book make me think about my own future and what I really want to do in life. This helped me gain confidence in myself and to never give up on anything. It was really breathtaking and it deserves a reward for being so well-written! Hewett' writing style is so well-written because it takes inside of the perspective of Stephanie's mind. Overall, if I would've rate this book on scale between 1-10, I would give it a 8 because of its heart-warming plot and originality!
My first reaction was "Wow". This book was amazing! It was so inspiring! This book make me think about my own future and what I really want to do in life. This helped me gain confidence in myself and to never give up on anything. It was really breathtaking and it deserves a reward for being so well-written! Hewett' writing style is so well-written because it takes inside of the perspective of Stephanie's mind. Overall, if I would've rate this book on scale between 1-10, I would give it a 8 because of its heart-warming plot and originality!
Read
November 6, 2018There are spoilers, but very little.
Wow!
First thing, not only did I learn much about ballet from this book, but my interest in ballet developed during the course of my reading this book.
The book is very good. I enjoyed it!
Stephanie, an African American, teenage girl loves ballet. Ballet is where she can let everything go and just dance. But, being African American, there aren't many opportunities for her as a dancer. That was where her parents and she fought about, mainly her dad. So, without the support of her parents in pursuing ballet, but rather going to a university, when Ms. Winnie comes into her life, Stephanie is finally able to share her love for ballet with someone who understands. With the help of Ms. Winnie, Stephanie improves as a dancer and is open to more opportunities.
There is also Ms. Winnie's nephew, Vance, who is a talented ballet dancer, but not one who is passionate about it. Eventually, the two become more than dance partners in Ms. Winnie's studio.
Hovering around is the Sleeping Beauty. Stephanie, who was upset over not getting the leading part, but rather the new girl, Anna, eventually accepted it and even became friends with Anna.
The book introduces other things. There were popular girls, whom all lived in big, fancy places. And at first, you'd notice that Stephanie hates that she lives in the neighborhood she lived in. She didn't like that her father was a janitor at her school, too. Anyway, she ultimately realizes that although her family isn't as wealthy as her peers' families, they are there for her. This idea, I believe, arose after the incident with Gillian. Stephanie also realized something- as a result of Gillian- about ballet. She realized that ballet does not exactly provide a sense of security, for it is time-consuming. What I'm saying is that due to its demand, you forget your troubles, which may seem great. However, because you do not face your troubles, but let them escape you, they become worse.
On the bright side, Stephanie and SAB. She got accepted in the School of American Ballet with a scholarship. However, the part that I do consider to be brighter is that she began to think rationally about her dream of pursuing ballet: she knew there was no guarantee, so she decided to look into college. Although she did that because she didn't fully believe in herself, it is important to plan ahead.
As you can tell by the review, there is a lot in this book. It may seem like there isn't, but there is.
Nevertheless, I did like this book. Very much.
Refreshing
Wow!
First thing, not only did I learn much about ballet from this book, but my interest in ballet developed during the course of my reading this book.
The book is very good. I enjoyed it!
Stephanie, an African American, teenage girl loves ballet. Ballet is where she can let everything go and just dance. But, being African American, there aren't many opportunities for her as a dancer. That was where her parents and she fought about, mainly her dad. So, without the support of her parents in pursuing ballet, but rather going to a university, when Ms. Winnie comes into her life, Stephanie is finally able to share her love for ballet with someone who understands. With the help of Ms. Winnie, Stephanie improves as a dancer and is open to more opportunities.
There is also Ms. Winnie's nephew, Vance, who is a talented ballet dancer, but not one who is passionate about it. Eventually, the two become more than dance partners in Ms. Winnie's studio.
Hovering around is the Sleeping Beauty. Stephanie, who was upset over not getting the leading part, but rather the new girl, Anna, eventually accepted it and even became friends with Anna.
The book introduces other things. There were popular girls, whom all lived in big, fancy places. And at first, you'd notice that Stephanie hates that she lives in the neighborhood she lived in. She didn't like that her father was a janitor at her school, too. Anyway, she ultimately realizes that although her family isn't as wealthy as her peers' families, they are there for her. This idea, I believe, arose after the incident with Gillian. Stephanie also realized something- as a result of Gillian- about ballet. She realized that ballet does not exactly provide a sense of security, for it is time-consuming. What I'm saying is that due to its demand, you forget your troubles, which may seem great. However, because you do not face your troubles, but let them escape you, they become worse.
On the bright side, Stephanie and SAB. She got accepted in the School of American Ballet with a scholarship. However, the part that I do consider to be brighter is that she began to think rationally about her dream of pursuing ballet: she knew there was no guarantee, so she decided to look into college. Although she did that because she didn't fully believe in herself, it is important to plan ahead.
As you can tell by the review, there is a lot in this book. It may seem like there isn't, but there is.
Nevertheless, I did like this book. Very much.
Refreshing
March 4, 2017
Ballet has always had a special place in my heart. I took ballet classes for two years, from seven to nine years old, and I loved it. Grand jeté was my favorite move. My earliest memories of ballet were the Alvin Ailey Dancers and numerous Russian ballerinas. This story really brought me a sense of nostalgia.
Story:
In Dancer by Lori Hewitt (214 pages), Stephanie had been passed up for the role of a lifetime, to be Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) in a ballet play. She starts contemplating the many difficulties in ballet and begins to doubt herself. Not to mention her parents don't think she will have any longevity as a ballerina, a black ballerina at that. Stephanie gets tired being the only one who believes she can accomplish her dream until she meets the lustrous Miss Winnie, a woman who embodies all the ballerina Stephanie wants to be.
I really want to give a handclap to Hewitt for including beautiful female friendships. She realistically shows the pettiness, insecurity, and loving nature girls can have toward one another.
Dancer had some authentically realistic moments. One scene, in particular, left me with a great quote:
I enjoyed the tinge of romance as well though I wanted just a glass more.
CHARACTERS:
I like Stephanie because she's relatable. She is insecure about her talent, her future, and even a little bit about herself. Stephanie even acknowledges that she has an inner ugly voice that thinks rude things. The situation she had with the three private school girls, Lisa, Kelly, and Gillian, is all too real.
Most people know that feeling when you agree or get involve in something you had no plans in due to pressure, not even from wanting to fit in but just not to say the wrong thing.
Vance is cool. He reminds me Monty, from my favorite book Standing Against the Wind, but a lot rougher around the edges. He's more than what meets the eye and he is very conceited but sweet. I wish he spoke his feelings more in the book because I wanted to know what he was thinking.
The mentor character is one that I have always liked, so Miss Winnie was great in my opinion. The descriptions of her outfits seemed so pretty too.
Also, I sympathize with Anna. She simply just did her job well. It was not like she was trying to be the teacher's pet.
The character development with Gillian was a nice one. It's nice that Lisa and Kelly were not shoehorned into to flat mean girls roles as well.
OVERALL:
I was deeply engrossed in this book and its characters, so five out of five stars from me. I am not sure if this is a book you read once and it stays with you, or a book you read over and over. Either way, it's a book you have to read.
I might have to add this one to my bookshelf.
Story:
"I didn't finish the thought. Instead, I imagined us dancing together, his walking around me in a slow promenade, looking into my eyes" (pg 94)
In Dancer by Lori Hewitt (214 pages), Stephanie had been passed up for the role of a lifetime, to be Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) in a ballet play. She starts contemplating the many difficulties in ballet and begins to doubt herself. Not to mention her parents don't think she will have any longevity as a ballerina, a black ballerina at that. Stephanie gets tired being the only one who believes she can accomplish her dream until she meets the lustrous Miss Winnie, a woman who embodies all the ballerina Stephanie wants to be.
I really want to give a handclap to Hewitt for including beautiful female friendships. She realistically shows the pettiness, insecurity, and loving nature girls can have toward one another.
Dancer had some authentically realistic moments. One scene, in particular, left me with a great quote:
"Maybe I could be her friend, but I couldn't help her solve her problems" (pg 205)
I enjoyed the tinge of romance as well though I wanted just a glass more.
CHARACTERS:
I like Stephanie because she's relatable. She is insecure about her talent, her future, and even a little bit about herself. Stephanie even acknowledges that she has an inner ugly voice that thinks rude things. The situation she had with the three private school girls, Lisa, Kelly, and Gillian, is all too real.
"On Saturday night, when Lisa was out with her boyfriend and I was supposedly having a slumber party, I sat at home sewing ribbons on a new pair of pointe shoes and was in bed by ten o'clock" (pg 38)
Most people know that feeling when you agree or get involve in something you had no plans in due to pressure, not even from wanting to fit in but just not to say the wrong thing.
Vance is cool. He reminds me Monty, from my favorite book Standing Against the Wind, but a lot rougher around the edges. He's more than what meets the eye and he is very conceited but sweet. I wish he spoke his feelings more in the book because I wanted to know what he was thinking.
The mentor character is one that I have always liked, so Miss Winnie was great in my opinion. The descriptions of her outfits seemed so pretty too.
Also, I sympathize with Anna. She simply just did her job well. It was not like she was trying to be the teacher's pet.
The character development with Gillian was a nice one. It's nice that Lisa and Kelly were not shoehorned into to flat mean girls roles as well.
OVERALL:
I was deeply engrossed in this book and its characters, so five out of five stars from me. I am not sure if this is a book you read once and it stays with you, or a book you read over and over. Either way, it's a book you have to read.
I might have to add this one to my bookshelf.
March 18, 2020
Stephanie is a young black ballet dancer in a crossroad in her life; keep dancing and get into a company or please her parents by going to college for a "real job". Maybe I'm biased as I am a dancer myself, but being a dancer is work, every day.
The simplicity of the story I felt like really did a damper on it overall because there were so many more nuances that could have been explored! The fact that black ballet dancers are still a novelty to see on stage and that black dancing bodies are still not the norm or even as well funded compared to the majority of other companies. There were a lot of heavy topics that were just kinda glossed over but still recognized and I wanted so badly for the writer to dive into it with both feet and scream at the world, but given the time that this book was written, I suppose I understand.
It was a nice fairly quick read and I'd recommend it.
The simplicity of the story I felt like really did a damper on it overall because there were so many more nuances that could have been explored! The fact that black ballet dancers are still a novelty to see on stage and that black dancing bodies are still not the norm or even as well funded compared to the majority of other companies. There were a lot of heavy topics that were just kinda glossed over but still recognized and I wanted so badly for the writer to dive into it with both feet and scream at the world, but given the time that this book was written, I suppose I understand.
It was a nice fairly quick read and I'd recommend it.
June 18, 2020
This book really surprised me. It surprised me in a good way. I had never heard of the author of the book before but while looking up YA books by Black authors about girls who love ballet, this book from 1999 came up. It was a quiet book but the main character had so much heart! All of the characters in her life were full and complex and you could understand their motivations even if you didn't agree with them. This story follows a Black teen girl growing up in the 1990s who is on track to join a ballet company. Her parents, who both have blue collar jobs, are concerned that her dreams will be dashed because of the world not being ready for a Black ballet dancer. When an older retired Black ballet dancer comes into her life, everything changes for the main character and she feels valued and seen as a dancer.
October 12, 2023
this was one of those books where i finished it completely satisfied. it was such a perfect ending, open-ended, but also shut tight. i don’t usually read contemporary, but this book was SO SO amazing. i feel connected to it in a way i don’t a lot if other books. it made me reevaluate dance and ballet, and reading it as a ballet dancer was a whole other experience. i loved stephanie’s character arc, going from dancing technique to dancing ballet. and i loved vance’s arc too!! the statement this book made about social hierarchy and being liked was so well written. lorri hewett is such a good writer omg i want to read other things she’s written. 5/5 ⭐️
January 11, 2024
I gave this book 5 stars because it was interesting and educational, which I feel is key in every good book.
The plot of this book is intriguing and reveals the true reality of being a ballerina. A well-paced book where you are moved through the journey of self-discovery and hardships. This book is well-written in terms of creating an emotional connection between each character. Although I enjoyed the majority of this book, I feel that the ending was a bit rushed and did not create a sense of closure.
The story was interesting due to the characters being well-written and in their unique way contributing to the plot. Lorri Hewett does a great job of creating a story that deals with real-life problems by writing characters who have meaningful relationships.
The plot of this book is intriguing and reveals the true reality of being a ballerina. A well-paced book where you are moved through the journey of self-discovery and hardships. This book is well-written in terms of creating an emotional connection between each character. Although I enjoyed the majority of this book, I feel that the ending was a bit rushed and did not create a sense of closure.
The story was interesting due to the characters being well-written and in their unique way contributing to the plot. Lorri Hewett does a great job of creating a story that deals with real-life problems by writing characters who have meaningful relationships.
September 12, 2018
I think this book is really interesting. It talks about a half African American girl who dances from when she was 6. Her learning is very good too, I think she got a very good grade on PSAT so many colleges have sent mail to her like come to our school. From Yale, Stanford... but she wanted to go to other schools where they have dance team instead but her dad wants her to go to a school that has better academics and them kind of had a family fight. And at last her dad asked her have you seen a dancer that is "black"
September 27, 2018
I think this book is really interesting. It talks about a half African American girl who dances from when she was 6. Her learning is very good too, I think she got a very good grade on PSAT so many colleges have sent mail to her like come to our school. From Yale, Stanford... but she wanted to go to other schools where they have dance team instead but her dad wants her to go to a school that has better academics and them kind of had a family fight. And at last her dad asked her have you seen a dancer that is "black"
April 29, 2020
I read this book years ago as a teenager and I loved it just as much reading it then as I did again. I connected with the young protagonist on a journey to realize the difference between enjoyment and reality all roped up in the perfection of ballet among its beauty, strive to perfection, and passion. A great read for anyone in the arts and wondering if there is room for it in life as a pleasure and not just a career.
July 4, 2017
One of my favorite childhood books! Just re-read for the first time in over a decade...just as amazing now. This book speaks to my soul.
January 31, 2018
A really great book
August 8, 2023
I literally checked this book out of my elementary school library so much that my librarian offered me to buy it
December 14, 2024
Very minor spoilers. This book takes place before cell phones, somewhere between 1990-2000.
This is one of those hidden gems you were so happy to find and pick up.
I ordered this book on Amazon a few months ago, intrigued by the concept, but I never felt like getting around to reading it. Then today, I picked it up off my shelf and said, “You know what? I’m gonna try this.”
Now I wasn’t expecting much, just a small, maybe cutesy story, that I’d forget about in a few days.
Boy, how wrong I was.
The concepts covered in this book were really well done. I loved how topics like prejudice were handled. It was so balanced and fair, showing the prejudiced perspectives from every side. Not just racial prejudice, but body prejudice, status prejudice, money prejudice. Social prejudice(meaning like teens and trying to fit in). I was so surprised at how well Lorri handled each scene, with maturity and respect for the characters and their individual qualities. And also to the reader.
The main character was super relatable and sweet. I could picture her dancing and the way things looked because the descriptions were straight to the point, yet conveyed so much depth. There’s one scene where we are getting a quick look at Mrs. Winnie’s living room, (one of the book’s main characters) where there are some shelves holding old-fashioned music boxes, framed photos, and little ballerina figurines. It was just described in such a way, that gave it an old, yet timeless feel. Like ‘yeah this woman knows her stuff’ but it still manages to capture that magical feeling of passion, something that our main girl could really relate to. (Stephanie really idolizes Mrs. Winnie, she was her hero and I loved every bit of their relationship in this).
I loved how Stephanie was strong, yet not strong in the sense of being bratty, but more so, willing to stand up for her passion and do the right thing for herself. The way she progressed, crying and sweating her way to her goals, working hard to deserve every single accomplishment that she set out to achieve, was a joy to read.
I felt really connected to the main character. I understood everything she was feeling. I also liked that she was very serious about dance, and with a good head on her shoulders. She said no to certain peer pressures at a party and the poor girl didn’t feel she belonged because she knew that stuff just wasn’t her. I could honestly relate because I would have reacted the same way she did.
There are also many scenes where Stephanie fights with her parents, particularly her dad. I could see the flaws in her for thinking her parents are just “mean and don’t understand her dreams,” but it was so realistic because many teens feel that way in some aspects. I liked how she went back and apologized to her dad, because he’s the head janitor and sometimes she looked down on his work as being too average. But she realized she was wrong to judge him. Both of her parents were very supportive of her dreams, despite saying some harsh, yet honest things. They just didn’t want her to be disappointed if things did not turn out like she hoped. I loved how the author made her mature in this sense, and come to appreciate how hard-working her dad was and how she really needed him at the end when something bad happened. Relying on your parents is ok! I thought that was a strong and healthy message.
One of our other main characters: Vance
He’s the cute boy from the hood who preferred the more modern type of performing. His character was great and relatable, and yet still captured that hood brother vibe. He grew a lot too, sticking to his gut, much in the same way Stephanie does. There’s a little romance between the two and it was so cute. He still went his own way though, despite upsetting his Aunt Winnie for not being the kind of performer she wanted and the chance that he might not be able to see Steph anymore. It was very realistic and felt so much like real life.
The other supporting characters were great as well, although I have to say there are a lot of blonde characters in this novel. I would have liked to see more diversity of hair, like redhead or brunette. Most of the minor side characters were described as blonde, so it was hard to differentiate each one.
The ones that did stand out were our main dance crew. I loved that each character had some of their own issues and problems. Stephanie reacted to each situation differently, but she still took the care and time to help sort out each one. She was such a sweetheart and I loved this character to death, I swear, cheering her on at every performance or try-out she had to do. It was a breath of fresh air to read a mature character's perspective.
I definitely recommend if you need a light-hearted and inspirational story. A quick read and has no smut. There are some drug and alcohol references (but in a way that warns against them).
This is one of those hidden gems you were so happy to find and pick up.
I ordered this book on Amazon a few months ago, intrigued by the concept, but I never felt like getting around to reading it. Then today, I picked it up off my shelf and said, “You know what? I’m gonna try this.”
Now I wasn’t expecting much, just a small, maybe cutesy story, that I’d forget about in a few days.
Boy, how wrong I was.
The concepts covered in this book were really well done. I loved how topics like prejudice were handled. It was so balanced and fair, showing the prejudiced perspectives from every side. Not just racial prejudice, but body prejudice, status prejudice, money prejudice. Social prejudice(meaning like teens and trying to fit in). I was so surprised at how well Lorri handled each scene, with maturity and respect for the characters and their individual qualities. And also to the reader.
The main character was super relatable and sweet. I could picture her dancing and the way things looked because the descriptions were straight to the point, yet conveyed so much depth. There’s one scene where we are getting a quick look at Mrs. Winnie’s living room, (one of the book’s main characters) where there are some shelves holding old-fashioned music boxes, framed photos, and little ballerina figurines. It was just described in such a way, that gave it an old, yet timeless feel. Like ‘yeah this woman knows her stuff’ but it still manages to capture that magical feeling of passion, something that our main girl could really relate to. (Stephanie really idolizes Mrs. Winnie, she was her hero and I loved every bit of their relationship in this).
I loved how Stephanie was strong, yet not strong in the sense of being bratty, but more so, willing to stand up for her passion and do the right thing for herself. The way she progressed, crying and sweating her way to her goals, working hard to deserve every single accomplishment that she set out to achieve, was a joy to read.
I felt really connected to the main character. I understood everything she was feeling. I also liked that she was very serious about dance, and with a good head on her shoulders. She said no to certain peer pressures at a party and the poor girl didn’t feel she belonged because she knew that stuff just wasn’t her. I could honestly relate because I would have reacted the same way she did.
There are also many scenes where Stephanie fights with her parents, particularly her dad. I could see the flaws in her for thinking her parents are just “mean and don’t understand her dreams,” but it was so realistic because many teens feel that way in some aspects. I liked how she went back and apologized to her dad, because he’s the head janitor and sometimes she looked down on his work as being too average. But she realized she was wrong to judge him. Both of her parents were very supportive of her dreams, despite saying some harsh, yet honest things. They just didn’t want her to be disappointed if things did not turn out like she hoped. I loved how the author made her mature in this sense, and come to appreciate how hard-working her dad was and how she really needed him at the end when something bad happened. Relying on your parents is ok! I thought that was a strong and healthy message.
One of our other main characters: Vance
He’s the cute boy from the hood who preferred the more modern type of performing. His character was great and relatable, and yet still captured that hood brother vibe. He grew a lot too, sticking to his gut, much in the same way Stephanie does. There’s a little romance between the two and it was so cute. He still went his own way though, despite upsetting his Aunt Winnie for not being the kind of performer she wanted and the chance that he might not be able to see Steph anymore. It was very realistic and felt so much like real life.
The other supporting characters were great as well, although I have to say there are a lot of blonde characters in this novel. I would have liked to see more diversity of hair, like redhead or brunette. Most of the minor side characters were described as blonde, so it was hard to differentiate each one.
The ones that did stand out were our main dance crew. I loved that each character had some of their own issues and problems. Stephanie reacted to each situation differently, but she still took the care and time to help sort out each one. She was such a sweetheart and I loved this character to death, I swear, cheering her on at every performance or try-out she had to do. It was a breath of fresh air to read a mature character's perspective.
I definitely recommend if you need a light-hearted and inspirational story. A quick read and has no smut. There are some drug and alcohol references (but in a way that warns against them).
August 11, 2024
WOW WOW WOW I LOVED this book. All the characters and the story line was written so good. I also was able to relate to the main character’s experiences in her life as she’s one of the only black ballerinas and I’m one of the only black musicians. This book taught me if you have a passion don’t do something to please other people as the only person you need to please is yourself. Great book.
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October 9, 2013Stephanie wants it. She wants it so bad she has dedicated her life to it - really. She spends every day working it, sweating and exhausted when she's done, all of her muscles screaming at the stress. She knows she got the lead this time - the upcoming recital has been anticpated for weeks and the lists are finally up. What wasn't anticipated was Anna. Anna of the frail, cute, foreign look who waltzed in three weeks ago and now appears on the list as the lead role for the recital. Anna, white white Anna, has the part Stephanie should have had. Would have had, if Anna hadn't joined the ballet school a few weeks ago.
Stephanie's parents support her ballet classes - making sure she gets to them every day. They also support her going to college and "growing out of" this pipe dream to be a black ballerina. Her dad leaves college catalogs on her desk, hoping she'll apply to something besides those "dance schools." He's afraid she won't make it. And now, with Anna's name topping the list, Stephanie wonders how she's going to tell her parents she didn't get the lead.
Ballet is her life. It's all she ever wanted. But as she practices on the bar, stretching and reaching with her legs, she questions whether or not she will make it. That's when the lady walks in - graceful, old, dressed in beauty. Her son is beautiful too, but with an expression on his face of utter boredom. He's here for class. He's here because his aunt is making him dance, hoping he'll achieve the dreams she never did.
But it's not just a dream for Stephanie - it's her life. All of her life. And as school, parties, and more college flyers come her way, she struggles to hold on to what she believes: she WILL be a dancer.
Dancer by Lori Hewitt.
Stephanie's parents support her ballet classes - making sure she gets to them every day. They also support her going to college and "growing out of" this pipe dream to be a black ballerina. Her dad leaves college catalogs on her desk, hoping she'll apply to something besides those "dance schools." He's afraid she won't make it. And now, with Anna's name topping the list, Stephanie wonders how she's going to tell her parents she didn't get the lead.
Ballet is her life. It's all she ever wanted. But as she practices on the bar, stretching and reaching with her legs, she questions whether or not she will make it. That's when the lady walks in - graceful, old, dressed in beauty. Her son is beautiful too, but with an expression on his face of utter boredom. He's here for class. He's here because his aunt is making him dance, hoping he'll achieve the dreams she never did.
But it's not just a dream for Stephanie - it's her life. All of her life. And as school, parties, and more college flyers come her way, she struggles to hold on to what she believes: she WILL be a dancer.
Dancer by Lori Hewitt.
January 27, 2012
this book focus on a sixteen years old girl call Stephanie. her major passion is dancing and dancing is her whole life. she couldn't imagine what she would be like if she don't dance. dancing is the only thing that motivates her through life. ballet class is a way for her to get away from the outside things and just focus on her dance. in the beginning, Stephanie's life start out unravel when a new Russian girl move into her area and as sleeping beauty where people think that it should have been Stephanie but all she cares about is studio dancing. Stephanie don't fit into the kids and have not much friends. this start to concern her parent because her parent think that dancing is just a hobby not a actual career. she was pressure by her home and at that moment, she began to turn to Miss Winnie to help her succeed her dream of becoming a professional dancer in reality. Stephanie struggle on whether she is going the right path as she grew up, she began to understand what is her biggest motivation.
i would recommend this to people who love ballet or dancing because they would enjoy it if they can relate to it.or those feel bad when people in-tolerate your dream or goal without doubt and when parent don't agree to what your doing. parents who never support your dream when they know that you love it so much. Stephanie was well developed in this novel and we could see how mature she goes when the book move on. she began to make the right decision herself rather than relying on others and then become upset when those choices weren't matching her dreams.
i would recommend this to people who love ballet or dancing because they would enjoy it if they can relate to it.or those feel bad when people in-tolerate your dream or goal without doubt and when parent don't agree to what your doing. parents who never support your dream when they know that you love it so much. Stephanie was well developed in this novel and we could see how mature she goes when the book move on. she began to make the right decision herself rather than relying on others and then become upset when those choices weren't matching her dreams.
November 21, 2008
Dancer by Lorri Hewett, is a fantasy book about a 16 year old african american girl, named Stephanie, who loves to dance and is the best in her studio. She has two best friends named Ursula and Camilla.
One day a new girl named Anna comes to the studio right before auditions. They were about to audition for the ballet, Sleeping Beauty. When the cast list came out, Anna was Sleeping Beauty and Stephanie was the next best part. The Sugarplum Fairy. Anna was choosen as Sleeping Beauty because she is white. Stephanie is black. When stephanie tells her parents, they start believing that's she's not as passionate for the sport anymore, they don't want her dancing anymore!
Then one day, a former dancer named Miss. Winnie comes to the studio during class. Miss. Winnie is also black and talks to Stephanie about how it was worse back in her day.(The whole black/white thing.) Later on, Miss. Winnie starts giving Stephanie extra dance lessons with her nephew Vance. Vance is also going to be in Sleeping Beauty as the prince. Vance and Stephanie start to spend more time together....
I really like how the author, Lorri Hewett, gave alot of description. She used alot of adjectives to describe the writing. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to dance or at least knows a LITTLE about it. This is an "Easy Read" book that provides romance, and feeling. Out of 1-10, I would rate this book a nine! So I reccomend that you read this book as soon as possible!
One day a new girl named Anna comes to the studio right before auditions. They were about to audition for the ballet, Sleeping Beauty. When the cast list came out, Anna was Sleeping Beauty and Stephanie was the next best part. The Sugarplum Fairy. Anna was choosen as Sleeping Beauty because she is white. Stephanie is black. When stephanie tells her parents, they start believing that's she's not as passionate for the sport anymore, they don't want her dancing anymore!
Then one day, a former dancer named Miss. Winnie comes to the studio during class. Miss. Winnie is also black and talks to Stephanie about how it was worse back in her day.(The whole black/white thing.) Later on, Miss. Winnie starts giving Stephanie extra dance lessons with her nephew Vance. Vance is also going to be in Sleeping Beauty as the prince. Vance and Stephanie start to spend more time together....
I really like how the author, Lorri Hewett, gave alot of description. She used alot of adjectives to describe the writing. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to dance or at least knows a LITTLE about it. This is an "Easy Read" book that provides romance, and feeling. Out of 1-10, I would rate this book a nine! So I reccomend that you read this book as soon as possible!
June 5, 2008
This was a book that I found in the advisory basket and I thought that it was going to be a boring book. However, it turned out to be pretty good because it was about how a teenage girl succumbs to society views of ballet dancers as whites and how she takes her first dive at true love. Stephanie faces pressures from her family to forget about ballet because they felt that she wouldn't become successful and this brought Stephanie's self esteem to an even lower level. Later, Stephanie is to meet a woman named Miss Winnie who motivates and inspires Stephanie to do her best and that she will be able to achieve her goal if she tries to. Although everyone else in Stephanie's life seems to bring her down, she remains strong with the help of her mentor, Miss Winnie. During her sessions with Miss Winnie, Stephanie is introduced to a boy named Vance who happens to be Miss Winnie's nephew. The impression that Vance gave Stephanie at first was one that was too "cool" for her. She realizes the troubles that Vance faces as a male in society who is pursuing ballet because of her aunt. But, even though Vance shows that he doesn't care about ballet, it is what brings him close to Stephanie and sparks a relationship. With the support of Vance and Miss Winnie, Stephanie is able to get closer and closer to her dreams of becoming a famous professional ballet dancer.
July 24, 2016
Below is an old review but I think it's worth keeping. I must have first read this book when I was about 14. Now rereading it more than 6 years later I can't get over the amazing characterization and beautiful simplicity of the characters and theme. Hewett really brings Stephanie alive. I want to repeat similar sentiment as my last review: this book and others like it, do not receive the credit they deserve. I must admit that it is a sad state of affairs, particularly because based on the number of ratings similar books have on Goodreads, this is definitely an issue of black authors/"black books" not having the readership. Because they're black or deal with black issues. I find it disappointing (but not surprising), even in a culture as perhaps more open than any other (the book world) that there remains an inferiorization of certain books on the basis of race. Anyway, this a definitely a book I'd have my future (WAYYYYY future) children read. It's wonderful.
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Seriously? I'm just now writing a review of one of my favorite books? A book I read two years ago?!?! Well tsk tsk for me. This book was awesome. Really sweet and well written. I wish people would read more books like this, books about people, girls in particular, who have actual problems they have to deal with...sigh :(
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Seriously? I'm just now writing a review of one of my favorite books? A book I read two years ago?!?! Well tsk tsk for me. This book was awesome. Really sweet and well written. I wish people would read more books like this, books about people, girls in particular, who have actual problems they have to deal with...sigh :(
July 22, 2012
Finally, a novel about ballet that doesn’t feel like it was written by someone who hates ballet. She does say that the toe shoes are tight, talks about breaking in toe shoes (and how new shoes hurt), dancer teachers who play favorites and even mentions eating disorders, without it all taking over the text.
The main story line is about a black teenage girl (Stephanie) attending a mostly-white private school. She wants to be a ballet dancer. Her parents think she should cut back on ballet – it’s not a realistic goal for a black girl. The girl finds a mentor (an older black woman who couldn’t make it to the top levels in the 40s & 50s because of discrimination). This mentor introduces her to a gifted black male dancer who is ballet trained, but who loves club dancing. They each pursue their dream (and the beginning of a relationship with each other). During a blow-up with her parents, Stephanie tells them she doesn’t want to be like them. Later, a classmate’s overdose helps her realize how much she trusts them. In the end Stephanie chooses to continue with ballet, but also consider college because she realizes the odds are against her and even if she makes it dance careers aren’t forever.
The main story line is about a black teenage girl (Stephanie) attending a mostly-white private school. She wants to be a ballet dancer. Her parents think she should cut back on ballet – it’s not a realistic goal for a black girl. The girl finds a mentor (an older black woman who couldn’t make it to the top levels in the 40s & 50s because of discrimination). This mentor introduces her to a gifted black male dancer who is ballet trained, but who loves club dancing. They each pursue their dream (and the beginning of a relationship with each other). During a blow-up with her parents, Stephanie tells them she doesn’t want to be like them. Later, a classmate’s overdose helps her realize how much she trusts them. In the end Stephanie chooses to continue with ballet, but also consider college because she realizes the odds are against her and even if she makes it dance careers aren’t forever.
July 31, 2008
I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. It's about a sixteen year old black ballerina named Stephanie. She makes for a pretty interesting character because she deals with a multitude of issues to which a variety of readers could relate. For one, she loves ballet but isn't sure she's good enough -- this idea of "I'm not good enough" is one that a lot of adolescents could identify with. She's also having a hard time explaining to her parents why she is so passionate about ballet -- they think she should be focusing on getting into good colleges instead. She struggles with being one of the only black kids at a posh all-white private school. (The reason she goes there is because her dad is a janitor -- yet another "problem" she has to come to terms with.) She's also into a guy that she can't quite figure out, which futher compliates her life.
It's not necessarily the best book in the world, but it's pretty good and I think a lot of girls would like it (especially girls with a ballet/dance background).
It's not necessarily the best book in the world, but it's pretty good and I think a lot of girls would like it (especially girls with a ballet/dance background).
Currently reading
December 16, 2010I thought this book so far is pretty interesting. So far its about a girl named stephanie and she is very fascinated with her dancing. She dances ballet, and a couple of other dances that interest her.She's aslo a black ballerina or know as african american ballerina. Her parents seem to think that their is less opportunities for a black ballerina, who wants to make it in the industry of ballet. But her dance teacher has a son named vance and he aslo a balleria but a male ballerina.
She's really feeling vance but she's not sure if she can focus on him and ballet. I want to keep reading this because i want to know if shes actually going to make it into the ballet industrie or if she's going to be a failure that her parents said she would be. Another thing is i wanna know if she's going to chose vance over ballet or ballet over lance. I think whats going to happen is that stephanie is going to actually make it into the idustrie of ballet and that she's still going to stay with vance she just going to have to rotate how its going to work out.
She's really feeling vance but she's not sure if she can focus on him and ballet. I want to keep reading this because i want to know if shes actually going to make it into the ballet industrie or if she's going to be a failure that her parents said she would be. Another thing is i wanna know if she's going to chose vance over ballet or ballet over lance. I think whats going to happen is that stephanie is going to actually make it into the idustrie of ballet and that she's still going to stay with vance she just going to have to rotate how its going to work out.
November 16, 2015
As a dancer, Misty Copeland has always inspired me. Even though, I never really paid attention to the ballet world, I always made sure I knew her name. When I was younger, I read a book so many times that the pages became worn and the book folded in on itself slightly. It was called Dancer and followed a black teenage girl in a world where she was the only black girl. She went to a prestigious private school, but only because her father was a janitor there. She was the only black girl in her ballet classes, and at times was passed over for lead roles, which she sometimes correlated with her race. The books discussed topics ranging from diversity or the lack thereof, stigmas against males, especially black males, in ballet, how hard it is to live off a dancer's salary, and the bias against heavier girls in ballet. Ballet is about calculated, yet graceful perfection, and the lengths people will go to reach that perfection can go as far as choosing who gets to dance based on things that shouldn't even affect the decision.
November 10, 2012
Dancer by Lorri Hewett is a realistic fiction novel about a girl named Stephanie. Stephanie reminds me of my self a lot with her love and passion for dance. Stephanie is a 16 ear old African American girl, whose dreams is to become a professional ballerina. Dancing is Stephanie's whole life. She could not imagine what life would be like if she didnt dance. Her parents on the other hand disproves of her desicions. They feel that there is less opportunities for a black ballerina in the industry. They want her to focus more on school and sart planning on college. In the text Stephanie states " This isn't fair! I do everything you tell me to, and i get good grades. Why can't I do my dancing?" (Hewett) Stephanie feels very upset because she loves dance and her dreams are to become a dancer, but with her parents not supporting her dreams she feels very upset and alone. She also feels that they are planning her life out for her.
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June 12, 2020Enjoyed the book very much but I believe it could still give us more.
Very easy to read and get into. Since the book touches upon dreams and the insecurities people struggle with, it can be relatable even if you’re aiming for a different future than ballet. The thing that bothered me, though, is how Stephanie talks to her parents. Why does she have to shout all the time?😅 I get it that she’s frustrated but sometimes the shouting is so uncalled for. I feel for her parents. It must be so hard on them too not knowing anything or too little about what their daughter loves so much. I was glad how she at least got better at handling her emotions towards the end. I felt like I wanted more of a backstory from Anna and Miss Winnie. But I understand that those might shift attention from Stephanie. A good example of a book that can manage without too much romance in it. I’m honestly okay even if the book won’t include any.
Very easy to read and get into. Since the book touches upon dreams and the insecurities people struggle with, it can be relatable even if you’re aiming for a different future than ballet. The thing that bothered me, though, is how Stephanie talks to her parents. Why does she have to shout all the time?😅 I get it that she’s frustrated but sometimes the shouting is so uncalled for. I feel for her parents. It must be so hard on them too not knowing anything or too little about what their daughter loves so much. I was glad how she at least got better at handling her emotions towards the end. I felt like I wanted more of a backstory from Anna and Miss Winnie. But I understand that those might shift attention from Stephanie. A good example of a book that can manage without too much romance in it. I’m honestly okay even if the book won’t include any.
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