Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette – A Candid Memoir of Breaking Barriers and Overcoming Racism in Dance

by Jennifer Jones

The first African American Rockette charts her journey to one of the world's most celebrated dance troupes in this gripping memoir that, for the first time, goes behind the velvet curtains at Radio City's legendary holiday show.

“Smashing through glass windows and paving the way for others requires a special blend of bravery and perseverance. Being a pioneer involves breaking down stubborn barriers, challenging closed-minded people and navigating through instances of racism and prejudice. This journey often included facing ongoing resistance from individuals who were unwilling to embrace change. It’s believing in your dream—that you can be and do whatever it is that you love.”—Jennifer Jones

The Radio City Rockettes are as American as baseball, hot dogs, and the Fourth of July. Their legendary synchronized leg kicks, precise lines, and megawatt smiles have charmed audiences for a century. But there is a hidden side to this illustrious national institution. When the Rockettes began in 1925, Black people were not allowed to dance on stage with white people. However, during the Civil Rights Movement, dance history changed significantly when Black and white dancers were permitted to perform together, marking a moment of progress and inclusivity in the world of dance and entertainment. Even so, as late as the early 1980s, Rockette director Violet Holmes said having “one or two Black girls in the line would definitely distract.”

In 1987 the 63-year color barrier at Radio City was finally broken by one brave and tenacious woman. When she arrived, Jennifer Jones was met with pushback—a fierce resistance she details in this intimate and inspiring memoir. After overcoming seemingly impossible odds to join the line of The Rockettes, a PR director summoned the Black dancer to her hotel room and announced, “You’re old news, nobody cares about you, your story or anything about you. You're just lucky to be here.”

Those words would haunt this shy, insecure biracial woman, who had always felt like an outsider.

Like Gelsey Kirkland’s iconic Dancing on My Grave, Becoming Spectacular allows us to walk in Jones’ tap shoes—beautiful and glittering, yet painful and binding. Bringing into focus the wounded life of a trailblazer, this searing memoir is also a triumphant celebration of a spirit who refused to be counted out.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Audiobook, Biography, Autobiography

208 pages, Hardcover

Published February 18, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer Jones (b. 1967) is an American dancer who debuted the first Black member of the American Radio City Music Hall Rockettes in 1987. In her 2025 memoir, Becoming Spectacular, Jones narrates her life, with around 1/4-1/3 of the book covering her time as a Rockette, and much of the book focusing on other aspects of her life. Jones talks about growing up mixed race (her father was Black while her mother was White) in the 1970s-1980s, finding her way to a career in entertainment, her various relationships, becoming a mother, finding work after her time with the Rockettes and as a Broadway ensemble performer ended, and surviving colon cancer. This was a fairly short read (<200 pages, ~6 hour audiobook), and unfortunately not particularly well-written -- it reads like "I did this, then I did that, then someone told me this, and I felt (insert emotion), then I went on to the next thing." While Jones is occasionally self-deprecating, much of the book feels like a long brag about how 'spectacular' she is/was as well as an interminable litany of complaints of how other people treated her, without the benefit of hindsight, maturity and perspective I like to see in memoirs. It's obvious that Jones experienced significant racism and prejudice in her dance career, both overt and covert, and I would have loved to hear her reflect more deeply about about the more covert instances and how she thought about it at the time vs. now. She comes across as very self-focused throughout, and seemed to miss a lot of the struggles happening around her that she could have explored a lot further.

Further reading: Black women in the entertainment industry
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History by Karen Valby | my review
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

My statistics:
Book 137 for 2025
Book 2063 cumulatively

[Christina]

I had no idea... Jennifer Jones is from the next town over from where I grew up... uncanny. From the cover I was expecting this story to be set in the 20s or 30s, but this lady is proper Gen X. I'm glad Jones wrote this book. If you missed the media blitz about her historic milestone with the racist Rockettes, this memoir will fill you in.

[Brandi Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was mainly memoir with a bit of self-help sprinkled throughout. I wasn’t familiar with the author outside of this book but upon seeing the cover, I thought it would be a compelling read.

I thought the focus would be more on her time as a Rockette, but that wasn’t the case. It was a full timeline of her life from youth through present day. Because I wasn’t familiar with the author beforehand, I wasn’t as engaged or invested in her story. Outside of her time as a Rockette, her life was pretty ordinary. There’s nothing wrong with a mostly ordinary life, but the book wasn’t as interesting as I thought it’d be.

One warning—the author discusses a serious medical diagnosis and goes into a fair amount of detail about different aspects of it. If you’re squeamish (like me), it could make you uncomfortable.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this one. The promise of learning more about the Rockettes, and especially the experience of the first Black Rockette on the line, had me intrigued. Unfortunately, the book barely scratched the surface on that front. That part of her story, which is how the book is largely marketed, felt more like a footnote than a focus.
The rest of her memoir didn’t quite hold my attention either. Without the in-depth Rockette storyline, it lacked a clear narrative thread. She didn’t explore any of the racial dynamics she touched on. Instead, the book leaned heavily into a pattern of mistreatment and unfairness, which felt more draining than enlightening.
The audiobook was short, so I stuck with it. But it ended up feeling long. I didn’t realize until after that the narrator wasn’t the author herself. And honestly, the narration was a big miss for me. It felt too performative, like acting out the story instead of simply telling it.
I wish I’d come away with more about the history and diversification of the Rockettes, but in the end, this one was a miss for me.

[Carrie Fairbanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Becoming Spectacular.

As soon as I saw the title, I knew I had to read this book. My daughter is a dancer and has been in absolute awe of the Rockettes since she started dancing at 2. I was excited for a glimpse into their world.

While I did enjoy the book, there were a couple things that kept it from being a great read. First, the timeline jumped around quite a bit, and suddenly years passed without context. That made for a choppy read. Another thing that kind of drove my crazy was the lack of accountability and ownership for anything negative that happened in the author's life. Life very much happened to her, and she never accepted the blame or acknowledged her mistakes in any capacity. Finally, this books covers the author's entire life to present(ish) day. There is very little focus on the actual Rockette time. I was hoping for more.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review

I was so excited to see this title pop up on NetGalley. Like Jennifer, I grew up in anew Jersey and was a dancer, so I was no stranger to The Rockettes and their Christmas Spectacular, so I was excited to know a lot of the references geographically and within the dance world like Broadway Dance Center and Frank Hatchett.

I appreciated this view and couldn’t believe how frustratingly and infuriatingly a long and overdue time it took to diversify the line and that even when it started to happen, it was barely a trickle and those dancers breaking barriers had a lot to tackle. Jennifer shares her unique experience in an easy to read way that tackles heavy issues and movements in a light and fast paced way without skirting around important facts. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies and she paints a great message that someone has to be first and often that person is simply just trying to do something that they love and didn’t start out trying to overcome some obstacle or challenge. I was astonished by the behavior of some of the fellow dancers and staffers of the organization and their reactions and am glad they are being brought to light.

My only qualm was the breakdown of the book which was quite literally 30% personal background, 40% time getting to and performing with the rockettes, and 30% life and jobs afterwards. I wish it had delved deeper into her time on the line, the issues she faced, maybe interviews with other dancers who faced similar treatment or better (hopefully!) treatment down the road. I was expecting the rockette focus to be heavier or would want the title and overview to be broadened to preview more about Jennifer and her career and life as a whole.

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

My Mom named me after Jennifer Jones, so I was excited to read her memoir.

✨ Jennifer Jones’s Becoming Spectacular is a rhythmic testament to perseverance, identity, and the cost of being first. As the first African American Rockette, Jones broke barriers not just with her high kicks, but with her unyielding resolve to claim space in a world that wasn’t built to include her.

Jones writes with the precision of a dancer and the vulnerability of someone who’s had to fight for every spotlight. Her voice is clear, candid, and emotionally grounded, offering readers a backstage pass not only to Radio City Music Hall but to the internal choreography of resilience. She doesn’t romanticize her journey; instead, she invites us into the bruises, the backstage politics, and the quiet triumphs that shaped her.

This memoir is about what it means to be visible in spaces that have historically erased or excluded Black women. Jones’s story is not just about dance—it’s about navigating systemic racism, colorism, and the emotional toll of being a symbol. Her reflections on identity, family, and ambition are layered with insight, particularly as she explores how her presence on stage challenged both institutional norms and personal expectations.

The metaphor of rhythm—literal and metaphorical—runs throughout the book. Whether she’s recounting grueling rehearsals or moments of personal doubt, Jones returns to the idea that resilience has a beat, a tempo, and a cost.

🩰 The memoir is structured like a performance: opening with early influences, building through tension and conflict, and culminating in a finale that is both celebratory and sobering. Jones balances personal anecdotes with broader cultural commentary, making the book accessible to readers unfamiliar with the world of professional dance while still offering depth for those who are.

👩🏾‍🎤 Jones’s story is a vital addition to the canon of Black women’s memoirs. It documents a moment in American cultural history that is often overlooked—the integration of one of the country’s most iconic performance troupes. Her account adds nuance to conversations about representation in the arts, and her legacy as a trailblazer is made all the more powerful by her willingness to share the emotional cost of that role.

Becoming Spectacular is a graceful, unflinching memoir that honors the rhythm of resilience. Jennifer Jones doesn’t just tell us how she became the first African American Rockette—she shows us what it took to stay there. For readers drawn to stories of perseverance, cultural change, and the quiet power of showing up, this memoir delivers.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this brilliant new memoir, readers learn about Jennifer Jones’s hard work and fight to become the first African American Rockette dancer in the company’s history. While Black and white dancers were first allowed to perform together during the civil rights movement, Jones did not join the Rockettes and make history until the late 1980s, and even then, that was met with pushback by the PR director and the Rockettes’ director Violet Holmes. Following Jones’s incredible journey to dance history, readers will be inspired by this fantastic and incredible biography of a groundbreaking woman. The recency of this story will make its context easily recognizable to readers, who will also sympathize with her story and her struggles to succeed as a dancer. As a history of dance and a biography, a lot of readers will be able to enjoy this book from a variety of angles and appreciate the deeply personal insights that Jones offers throughout this easy to read book. With the benefit of reflection, she offers some incredible insights into this iconic dance company and the challenges of breaking barriers and glass ceilings, and this inspiring and interesting new memoir will really pull readers into this fascinating story.

Thanks to Amistad and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Sharae RaetheReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC edition of this book in exchange for my honest review.

From the book cover and the title, I was very happy to read this story. I personally never heard of Jennifer Jones before this, and I think she deserves all her flowers for her achievements and accomplishments. Unfortunately, this memoir fell flat for me. Although I learned some new information about another icon in Black History, it needed some help. I think this memoir actually would have been better as a non-fic picture book. The ease of the writing is great because it makes it quicker to get through, but I had trouble wanting to continue. At times, the book seemed repetitive or gave a lot of details about menial things and glossed over very important happenings. Overall, I wanted Jennifer to dig deeper. Lastly, this book would have benefitted from having pictures of Jennifer Jones at very stages throughout (i.e., Rockettes, Super Bowl, and Broadway). Why not highlight her best achievements? Jennifer gave us a glimpse into her triumphant life-story but I was hoping for a little more.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this short biography Jennifer Jones shares her passion for dance and commitment to always giving her best. Selected as the first African American to dance in the Rockettes, she always gave it her all. Knowing that she was representing Black women and children wasn’t her focus as much as manifesting the perfection required to dance on that line.

Her life was not always easy but Jennifer was resilient and hard working and willing to do even some pretty undesirable jobs in order to keep a roof over her head and to support her children. Her ability to do the hard work also came into play when she received a difficult medical diagnosis that required her to endure through it all.

Surrounded by a loving family and supported by friends Jennifer Jones takes on every obstacle with aplomb and grace.

Thanks to @amistadbooks for the #advancereaderscopy. Pub date: 02/18/2025.

[Robyn Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. I waited to be approved with bated breath and let out a whoop when I got the email allowing me to download the book. I grew up with dreams of being a Rockette. Dreams I knew would never come true because of my height, but dreams nonetheless. I was so excited to read Jennifer's story.
I will say, I expected the book to focus more on her career and training as a dancer and performer. Those parts of her story rushed by all too quickly and I would have liked to hear more. There were also a few small anecdotes that I couldn't find reason for being told. That said, it was an interesting read. I finished in one day and as I said, it left me wanting more.

Note: I received an ARC of this book, at no cost to myself, from NetGalley

[Hannah Hedgepeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former dancer I was so excited to win a copy of this book. I really enjoyed hearing Jennifer's story and all the trials she went through to make history as the first African American Rockette. She broke barriers and kept going when others tried to stop her. Her story is so inspiring and it blows my mind to think that this was happening in the 1980's which was not that long ago. I hope all those people that told her no or that she wasn't good enough or mocked her are screaming, crying, and throwing up over her success. She hasn't had an easy path, but she is so spectacular.

***Also having a fangirl moment over the fact that we both took dance classes at Broadway Dance Center in NYC***

[Tamera Mcmahon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 1988 Super Bowl provided several firsts: Doug Williams was the first Back quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, Chubby Checkers performed in the Radio City-produced half-time show, and Jennifer Jones became the first Black Rockette.

The 1980s faced challenges and pushback with the affirmative action initiatives that promoted diversity, inclusivity, and equality in the workplace.
There was a mandatory look of “precision” for the Rockettes, no distractions - Rockettes were “not evaluated based on talent but rather on racial identity.”


“I believe we are put on this earth on purpose and for a purpose. That purpose becomes revealed to us over the course of our lifetime, and it’s clear when we’ve chosen the right path, because everything falls into place.”

[Molli Taub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for the eARC.

Becoming Spectacular jumped out at me after finished The Third Gilmore Girl and loving the behind the scenes broadway content. While I did enjoy this story, it is very much a life story, and not focused solely on her time as a Rockette. That being said, I still learned a lot that I didn’t know. As a millennial, I find it important to be reminded of how recent racism and sexism were still pretty blatantly occurring. The fact that Jennifer did not join the Rockettes until 1987 spoke volumes to this. Thank you to Jennifer Jones for sharing your story.

[Kelley Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer shares her unique life in a concise flowing manner. She candidly shares her experiences as a woman of color throughout the book landing at present day. Undoubtedly her life took unexpected turns often. My one caveat would be that I would have liked a more in depth behind the scenes telling of her time as a Rockette. The title lives up to the hype. She endured a lot and even in the face of adversity she became spectacular. I would describe the story as more memoir with her time as a Rockette sprinkled in. Resilience shines here. As a white woman my heart was touched seeing life through the eyes of a biracial woman.

[LINDA HAACK · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was interesting, and I appreciated reading about her passion for dancing that truly is a hard way to earn a living and have a stable life. However, she showed how she cobbled together her passion for her dancing, love of family and ability to work hard into a life that you might expect, based on her breaking into the elite Rockettes as not only a dancer but the first black dancer, to be happier and more sustaining. Her writing is sincere but not the most polished, but the story is a good example of passion, grit and love.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an easy read, and the author's life story is pretty interesting.

This book missed the mark in terms of storytelling, and the overall flow of the book. There were so many characters undeveloped, and stories left untold. I don't know if that was intentional because the author was rushing to tell her story, or because she wanted to keep things private. Either way, I still believe the story could've been written in a way that kept the reader intrigued with the content present, and not wondering what was left out and why.

[Jeni Enjaian]

(I do not rate memoirs.)
I always appreciate memoirs and the authors who chose to share aspects of their live with the readers. While this particular memoir is on the shorter side, Jones uses the pages to show the readers the behind the scenes of those who make history by being the first, the reality of how that does or does not change their story. So many imagine fairy tale journeys and endings for these people yet the reality is that life ends up being utterly mundane. This memoir does not go exceptionally deep but it does not have to.

[Caroline Maniscalchi (Larkin) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up obsessed with the Rockettes and went to the Christmas shows in NYC every year, so this one seemed really interesting to me, even without knowing anything about the author personally.
Her story WAS interesting, but I feel like the pacing was just not very good. She would move on from major events really quickly, and most of the book felt like stream of consciousness rather than planned out writing, where we never delved deeply enough into any one thing to get invested in what she was saying.

[Hailey Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

I liked the tone of voice, but I was torn about the second half of this book. While I appreciated the honest look into life after a dance career, I had picked up the book expecting/wanting more of a focus on the author's time as a Rockette whereas it was really just about her life in general.
—
“Any human existence is miraculous, and I didn’t intend to waste my time on this planet. I had something to say and a gift to offer.”

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Becoming the first black Rockette, and the difficult path to get there is a very significant achievement. The book tells Jennifer Jones' life story of all of her accomplishments, her thoughts, her feelings. The book itself is straightforward and easy to read, but definitely not a literary masterpiece.

[Julie Ounanian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this book. I have always loved the Rockettes and saw them when they came to town about 30 years ago. The narrator is very good. The story is really good. How Jennifer's parents met, growing up, siblings, school and finding her life of dance.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about the ups, downs, twists and turns of the trailblazing dancers Jennifer Jones. A good reminder of far the entertainment community has come, how far we still have to go, and how difficult the journey of every performer is.

[Beth Counselman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish there had been more conversation about the behind the scenes aspects of being a Rockets. While Jones’s story is remarkable and she is incredibly resilient, there was a lot of vagueness in the story throughout. I wanted to love it, but didn’t really learn anything new.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is solid, but she doesn't get really deep. There's not a lot of detail, which is fine, but it makes it seem like her problems were easily overcome. And I'm not sure that's the case. This feels more like a summary of Jones's life, rather than a true memoir.

[Dre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not all memoirs are created equal

[Book Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Linda McCune · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of the first African American Rockettes.

[Elizabeth Eisele · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book but Jennifer doesn’t focus much of her book on her Rockette experience. The timeline jumped around too much and I found the middle of the book hard to get through.

[Raquel]

Interviewed the lovely author for the NY Post: https://nypost.com/2025/02/18/lifesty...