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Dancing With Diana: A Memoir by Anne Allan
“Dancing makes you feel heaps better” – Diana
In 1981, after the wedding of the century, Anne Allan, a dancer, and ballet mistress with the London City Ballet, was offered an unusual assignment. Her Royal Highness Diana, the Princess of Wales, wanted dance lessons. Would Anne be her teacher?
Anne and her royal pupil were soon meeting at a private studio for the first of hundreds of secret weekly one-hour lessons that were never on the princess’s official schedule and never be discovered by the ever-lurking press. Under Anne’s direction, Diana mounted her spectacular debut on the stage of Covent Garden, videotaped a solo performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre, and made clandestine backstage visits to ballets and West End shows for the Princess to get as close as she could to the lives and work of real dancers.
Over the course of nine years, teacher and pupil became close friends. Diana appreciated having an outsider to whom she could speak candidly about her personal challenges and her place in the royal world. They would talk, laugh, cry, and—always—dance.
Most importantly, Diana learned to express her true self in physical movement. By her last class, the Princess had learned to carry herself with confidence, poise, and grace, both inside and outside the studio. Dance, says Anne, had “nourished and renewed her soul.”
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
“I have often been bitterly disappointed with interviews regarding the Princess. There was always so much more to this incredible woman than what was depicted. I hope that anyone reading the book will appreciate this fresh look at the more personal side of Diana, enjoy hearing stories about our friendship and share in our fun times, as well as finding a deeper understanding of just how extraordinary she was.” –
Anne Allan
In 1981, after the wedding of the century, Anne Allan, a dancer, and ballet mistress with the London City Ballet, was offered an unusual assignment. Her Royal Highness Diana, the Princess of Wales, wanted dance lessons. Would Anne be her teacher?
Anne and her royal pupil were soon meeting at a private studio for the first of hundreds of secret weekly one-hour lessons that were never on the princess’s official schedule and never be discovered by the ever-lurking press. Under Anne’s direction, Diana mounted her spectacular debut on the stage of Covent Garden, videotaped a solo performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre, and made clandestine backstage visits to ballets and West End shows for the Princess to get as close as she could to the lives and work of real dancers.
Over the course of nine years, teacher and pupil became close friends. Diana appreciated having an outsider to whom she could speak candidly about her personal challenges and her place in the royal world. They would talk, laugh, cry, and—always—dance.
Most importantly, Diana learned to express her true self in physical movement. By her last class, the Princess had learned to carry herself with confidence, poise, and grace, both inside and outside the studio. Dance, says Anne, had “nourished and renewed her soul.”
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
“I have often been bitterly disappointed with interviews regarding the Princess. There was always so much more to this incredible woman than what was depicted. I hope that anyone reading the book will appreciate this fresh look at the more personal side of Diana, enjoy hearing stories about our friendship and share in our fun times, as well as finding a deeper understanding of just how extraordinary she was.” –
Anne Allan
204 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2024
17 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 1, 2025
Call it a little girl's fascination with a Princess or the impression of a tragic accident on a young mind, however I have thought of Princess Diana for most my life. I have however never read a book about her, maybe because I never wanted the saddest parts of her story confirmed. All that being said when I found this book and read the description I knew I wanted to read it. I think Anne Allen did a wonderful job of telling about her time with Diana. Anne was put in a very unique position as dance teacher to a Princess and details a beautiful, heartfelt and heartbreaking story about said Princess' dream to dance! If you can't tell I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone, who sometimes thinks about Diana.
June 1, 2024
Dancing With Diana: A Memoir by Anne Allan is a wonderful book that gives a glimpse of the real woman behind the title of Princess of Wales.
This book is almost like that is part memoir and part biography. In telling of her own life and that relationship she experienced with Diana, Ms. Allan is able to present to us a different facet of Diana as she really was behind the position and her relation to the Royal Family. We get to see the beautiful, real, raw, intimate, flawed, and vulnerable woman that grew into her own person and voice through time and through her experiences in dance. Ms. Allan respectfully gives us this transformation and a glimpse into the complex and beautifully tragic life that was Diana. I have always had a soft spot for her and have read so many books, including her own, but I was pleasantly surprised to feel that at times it was as if I was learning about her for the first time.
A wonderful book.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Sutherland House Books/Ingram Publisher Services for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/10/24.
This book is almost like that is part memoir and part biography. In telling of her own life and that relationship she experienced with Diana, Ms. Allan is able to present to us a different facet of Diana as she really was behind the position and her relation to the Royal Family. We get to see the beautiful, real, raw, intimate, flawed, and vulnerable woman that grew into her own person and voice through time and through her experiences in dance. Ms. Allan respectfully gives us this transformation and a glimpse into the complex and beautifully tragic life that was Diana. I have always had a soft spot for her and have read so many books, including her own, but I was pleasantly surprised to feel that at times it was as if I was learning about her for the first time.
A wonderful book.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Sutherland House Books/Ingram Publisher Services for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/10/24.
March 24, 2025
A wonderfully kind story about her time with Diana, but so much more also. A gem for anyone who loves Music Theatre!
July 15, 2024
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Thanks to Edelweiss and Sutherland House Books for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Dancing With Diana. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m always up for a book about the British royal family, so when I saw this book offered on Edelweiss, I was curious to read it. This is, in fact, a memoir by Anne Allan, who had a long history with the London City Ballet, who also happened to give Princess Diana private lessons during her marriage.
As Allan recounts her life and entry into the orbit of the royal family, she does a great job of painting a picture of the shy, young Diana who loved to dance and somehow was able to take private lessons for years without the press knowing! I mean, I knew she still danced because of her very public performance in the mid-80s, so obviously she was still taking lessons, but I always assumed they were done at the palace. Silly American!
I found this memoir refreshing for its details into a small part of Diana’s life, as well as Allan’s very successful career, as well as her family life. Allan tells intimate details about her relationship with the princess, but it’s nothing salacious or something that hasn’t been talked about before. Rather, it’s a new perspective on the woman who captured hearts around the world, her love of dance, and the author’s own personal and professional journey.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Sutherland House Books for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Dancing With Diana. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m always up for a book about the British royal family, so when I saw this book offered on Edelweiss, I was curious to read it. This is, in fact, a memoir by Anne Allan, who had a long history with the London City Ballet, who also happened to give Princess Diana private lessons during her marriage.
As Allan recounts her life and entry into the orbit of the royal family, she does a great job of painting a picture of the shy, young Diana who loved to dance and somehow was able to take private lessons for years without the press knowing! I mean, I knew she still danced because of her very public performance in the mid-80s, so obviously she was still taking lessons, but I always assumed they were done at the palace. Silly American!
I found this memoir refreshing for its details into a small part of Diana’s life, as well as Allan’s very successful career, as well as her family life. Allan tells intimate details about her relationship with the princess, but it’s nothing salacious or something that hasn’t been talked about before. Rather, it’s a new perspective on the woman who captured hearts around the world, her love of dance, and the author’s own personal and professional journey.
October 28, 2024
So thankful that Anne Allan was led to write this memoir about her 5 or more years weekly and secretly helping Princess Diana learn to dance well, plus being an outlet for Diane to privately express herself with someone she could trust to keep her sad marital confidences private.
Diana especially needed the dancing during the time awful Charles and so cruel Camilla were blatantly carrying on --as if they were back in the Middle Ages. Diana kept hoping and trying and hoping!
There were times when the dance lessons had breaks, both from Diane's busy events schedule and also Anne's having a 3rd child as well as starting performances in various countries --she became more and more the financial provider of her family.
Near the end Diana's life becomes harder and harder thanks to her cheating husband and his horrible mistress --altho Diane finally reached the point when she privately asked Camilla to please leave her husband alone so the marriage would have a chance. Didn't happen --and then more tragedy!
The sad ending is well-known and the book contains more interactions, altho no more directly with Diana.
Strongly RECOMMEND!
Diana especially needed the dancing during the time awful Charles and so cruel Camilla were blatantly carrying on --as if they were back in the Middle Ages. Diana kept hoping and trying and hoping!
There were times when the dance lessons had breaks, both from Diane's busy events schedule and also Anne's having a 3rd child as well as starting performances in various countries --she became more and more the financial provider of her family.
Near the end Diana's life becomes harder and harder thanks to her cheating husband and his horrible mistress --altho Diane finally reached the point when she privately asked Camilla to please leave her husband alone so the marriage would have a chance. Didn't happen --and then more tragedy!
The sad ending is well-known and the book contains more interactions, altho no more directly with Diana.
Strongly RECOMMEND!
September 24, 2024
In 1981, Anne Allan was a dancer and the ballet Mistress for the London City Ballet. After a long day and putting her 4-year- old daughter to bed, she received a call from Princess Diana’s lady in waiting, requesting they meet at the Ritz to discuss how Diana could get dancing lessons. She was suspicious, but it turned out to be true! So the dancing lessons begin!
A fascinating and well-thought-out book! Diana and Anne had a special friendship where they supported each other. Dancing lessons were a nice escape from her Royal Duties and a difficult marriage. If you are a fan of Diana and have an appreciation for dance, then this is a must-read!
A fascinating and well-thought-out book! Diana and Anne had a special friendship where they supported each other. Dancing lessons were a nice escape from her Royal Duties and a difficult marriage. If you are a fan of Diana and have an appreciation for dance, then this is a must-read!
November 13, 2024
Dancing with Diana is an intimate, authentic, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most beloved and fascinating figures of the 20th century: Princess Diana. Written by Anne Allan, who had the privilege of being Diana’s personal dance instructor, this memoir embodies a side of the princess few have seen – her passion for dance, her resilience, and her ever-curious spirit.
Allan's writing paints a vivid, personal portrait of Diana, sharing moments filled with warmth, vulnerability, and humanity. She captures the joys, challenges and humour of working with the princess, whose grace and openness come to life in these pages, as does Allan's!
Allan's writing paints a vivid, personal portrait of Diana, sharing moments filled with warmth, vulnerability, and humanity. She captures the joys, challenges and humour of working with the princess, whose grace and openness come to life in these pages, as does Allan's!
October 2, 2024
I just adored Anne Allan's Dancing with Diana that I absolutely devoured this book in less than 2 days. It felt like such a respectful tribute to the time Anne got to spend with Diana in their lessons. The way Anne described the classes made me feel like I was one of the girlies and I really loved that. Additionally, I found Anne's use of discussing her time with Diana to also discuss her career in theatre was really interesting and I found myself quite stunned to learn about all the amazing productions she helped to work on - I mean the original run of Phantom of the Opera? Insane. Highly recommend this book for fans of Diana - it was a great read. 5⭐️!
August 11, 2025
I was sceptical as I'm the opposite of a royal lover, but read it on a friend's recommendation. The Diana parts are what you'd expect - Allan doesn't dish the dirt and is an empathetic teacher - nothing that hasn't already been made public about Diana. But Anne Allan has many talents in the ballet world, and describes lyrically what it is to love, teach,and practice dance and some of the intricacies of preparing for and staging dance productions. Those are the parts of the book that made it worth reading for me.
October 3, 2024
I’m just not the reader for this - though I did finish it. Recommended for anyone who got up at 3 in the morning to watch the spectacle of the wedding way back when (I did not).
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital copy. Apologies for the delay in getting this post up.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital copy. Apologies for the delay in getting this post up.
October 5, 2024
I enjoyed this memoir about Princess Diana and her dancing instructor. They spent several years together and became good friends. Anne Allan strived to keep the relationship secret, as requested by the Crown. She was also very busy doing her own job of working with the theater all around the world. I wish there had been photos but, obviously, that was impossible.
December 6, 2024
I wish the book had been more on Diana and less on the career of her dance teacher and mentor, the author, Ms. Allan. That said, it was an enjoyable read, and gave a good account of all the highs and lows of being Diana's dance teacher. I can only imagine what a privilege it was to be in her position, with all the glory, yet all the responsibility as well.
February 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 While it is a different take on the many stories of Princess Diana’s life it is an autobiography of the dancer’s life who taught Diana how to dance ballet. I didn’t mind some of her stories of how she moved up in the ballet world but it became repetitive about her work on a lot of the shows she helped to stage. I really only enjoyed the parts about Diana.
February 12, 2025
Dance lessons and Princess Diana, two subjects I love to read about all in one book. How the author managed to keep those lessons secret for decades is amazing to me. I just wish there had been some photos.
April 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and agreed with the ending wholeheartedly. It was a heartfelt read and I learned quite a bit about a girl/woman that lead a life like so many, as the British like to say, commoners.
September 23, 2024
An interesting story
I knew that Diana loved all forms of dance and appreciate the details that Anne has shared with her readers. I highly recommend this book. Thanks Anne.
I knew that Diana loved all forms of dance and appreciate the details that Anne has shared with her readers. I highly recommend this book. Thanks Anne.
November 7, 2024
A great book! A sweet look into a deep friendship. Must read!
March 22, 2025
Reading this felt like sitting down with a friend and hearing their wonderful stories.
Read
July 27, 2025Loved it! Well written
February 12, 2026
I loved it. What a beautifully and respectfully written memoir. I learned many things I didn't know before.
December 22, 2024
This was a biography of Lady Di’s dance teacher and her career. I was able to feel the connection these two developed throughout the years. However, they were times I did not know if Diana had shared some of what she was telling or if they were her perceptions of how Diana was actually feeling.
It’s hard to believe all those years of dance classes were kept hidden for so long and I can understand the author would want to share such an important part of her life. It made me realize how the princess was isolated and how hard it was for her to develop and maintain true friendships.
It’s hard to believe all those years of dance classes were kept hidden for so long and I can understand the author would want to share such an important part of her life. It made me realize how the princess was isolated and how hard it was for her to develop and maintain true friendships.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews