Just Different: A Memoir

by Wayne Sleep

Wayne Sleep has danced with ballet legends Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, partied with Freddie Mercury and performed with Princess Diana, becoming her close friend.

Behind the glitz and glamour, Wayne has always felt like an outsider. Sleep reveals the difficulties for a working-class, gay man in handling the prejudices of his generation and living through the Aids epidemic. Wayne was also the shortest principal dancer in the Royal Ballet - he had to spin twice as fast and jump twice as high to succeed.

In this moving - but also laugh-out-loud and gossip filled - memoir, Wayne Sleep shows how he danced his way to success, fulfilment and love, and how he overcame obstacles and prejudice along the way.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2024

Reviews

[Mark Ludmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating trip through the life of ballet dancer, actor and entertainer Wayne Sleep. From his working-class childhood, he tells how he started out as a classical ballet dancer before going in different directions, from contemporary dance and musicals to Shakespeare and reality TV. With such a full life, he has to omit some or his adventures which he included in his 1996 memoir Precious Little Sleep — his time filming The Tales of Beatrix Potter is one delight that’s missing. The biggest difference is that the memoir gives a frank account of Wayne’s life and experiences as a gay man which reminds us of the challenges of being gay in the 20th century, especially in the time of AIDS. The writing is full of Wayne’s cheekiness and dry wit, making it an entertaining read (although it would have benefited from the publisher giving it a final proof-read).

[Linda Lawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this memoir from beginning to end about Wayne’s life. He is open and honest from beginning to end. Starting from his working class background, informing us of the prejudices he came across in the dance world and being gay. His tenacity, grit and professionalism shines through. I loved hearing about his friendships with the likes of Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana. I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting Wayne last night following the Boswell Book Festival where he discussed his memoir. My book was duly signed by him and a photo taken with this absolute legend.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charismatic dancer, driven to succeed. There is a deeper more personal story to be told. But unfortunately here the reader/listener is allowed all too, quick flashes behind a curtain, which is royal blue and fixated with his friend Princess Diana, so much so that the title of the book, should have been Diana and Me. But then I wouldn't have been interested in the first place. A autobiography performing a two-step when this reader wanted a ballet.