Ballet Confidential: A personal behind-the-scenes guide

by David McAllister

Beyond the formidable combination of tulle and lycra, how much can an audience ever truly understand about the demands of being a ballet dancer? What really is the pain and pleasure of pointe shoes and jockstraps? Can a wardrobe malfunction derail a scene? What happens when injury sidelines a principal dancer mid-show?

Here is your tell-all guide, an all-access pass for ballet lovers and the ballet-curious by internationally acclaimed dancer and former artistic director of The Australian Ballet, David McAllister.

From toe acting, to the perils of partnering and onstage/offstage romances, David answers in intimate detail everything you have ever wanted to know about ballet but were too afraid to ask.

'One of the most celebrated artists of our time lifts the curtain on ballet's intoxicating pursuit of perfection. What a brilliant book! Filled with insider knowledge for the ballet lover or the newcomer, you will be whipping through the pages wanting to hear more of David's wisdom and humour behind bringing the art of ballet to life.' - Sarah Murdoch

'Nijinsky did WHAT with a scarf? Who dared call Anna Pavlova 'the broom'? Dancers stuff Chux Superwipes WHERE? For those of us who love the ballet but are too scared to ask the silly questions - David is our friend. Let him take you behind the velvet scrim for a pas de deus into ballet paradise.' - Catriona Rowntree

Genres: Nonfiction

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2023

Reviews

[Lucy Sweeney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ballet Confidential by David McAllister
☀️☀️☀️

This detailed behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet doesn't leave a stone unturned when it comes to painting a picture of life within the world of dancing. McAllister is one of Australia's greatest ballet triumphs both as a dancer and artistic director, and his wealth of experience and knowledge was evident throughout this book.

I enjoyed learning historical insights such as Anna Pavlova initially being dubbed too thin and weak for ballet, and how the first version of Swan Lake was panned by critics. I also appreciated David's personal stories - both good and bad - and without these anecdotes the book would closer resemble a textbook. There are certainly sections that cater towards the uninitiated and some of these I must admit I skimmed, but that shouldn't deter those who find the finer details interesting.

For anyone interested in ballet history, the army it takes to put on a show, or simply wants to know about how guys protect their junk while performing, this book has it all! It was a quick fun read.


"The reason dancers train for so long and are forever striving for continuous learning and refinement is to ensure that each night when the curtain goes up they make the impossible look effortless."

[Angela Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight into the world of ballet written by the much respected artistic director of the National Australian Ballet. At times gossipy, sometimes overly wordy but mostly reasonably entertaining, this is a must read for ballet fans. It brings the incredibly complicated task of bringing ballet to the stage to life and inspires admiration for all those involved.
It made me appreciate that there's an incredible effort and energy behind the scenes and feel that we should all give more support to the arts in general.

[Ann Koenig · Rating 3 out of 5]

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