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The Nutcracker Chronicles: A Fairytale Memoir
Perfect for The Nutcracker holiday market and fans of work/life balance books, this memoir of a ballet dancer–turned–literary curator shares the real-life journey of a dancer, wife, and mother.
The Nutcracker Chronicles, a modern twist on the beloved holiday ballet, intertwines the story of Clara and her nutcracker prince with the true-life stories that unfold backstage.
Janine Kovac was seven years old when she got a fluttery feeling in her chest while watching her first performance of The Nutcracker. From that moment, she knew she wanted to be a ballerina. It wasn’t long before she herself was dancing the part of a snowflake, flower, mouse, soldier, and Fritz, Clara’s brother, who snatches the nutcracker from her and yanks off its head—all in search of the magic she felt only on the stage.
The Nutcracker Chronicles tells the story of Janine’s pursuit of an elusive dream that compels her to endure blistered toes, weekly weigh-ins, second-hand pointe shoes, and constant insults from her directors. Why can’t you just dance like a pretty girl?
Over a twelve-year career, Janine dances with ballet companies in San Francisco, Seattle, Germany, Iceland, and Italy, returning home every holiday season to perform The Nutcracker with Ballet El Paso. Despite the challenges of the ballet world, Janine can’t resist the inner glow and effortlessness she feels on stage, under the lights, dancing to Tchaikovsky in the Land of Sweets, ruled by a sugar plum fairy. That’s when she feels beautiful.
Praise for “The Nutcracker Chronicles”
“Smart, vivid, and full of heart, Kovac nails what it feels like to be a little kid with a big dream, then fearlessly leads us to that dream's realization and--maybe best of all--to what comes after.” —Sara Nović, New York Times bestselling author of True Biz and Girl at War
"This book is a triumph for our times and a tribute to every one of us who knows what it means to feel more than see the beauty around and in us.”
—Putsata Reang, author of Pacific Northwest Book Award winner “Ma and Me”
"For those who love dance, for those who know nothing of dance, this bittersweet book will speak to you about perseverance, friendship, and what is really important."
—Lauren Kessler, author of Raising the Barre: Big Dream, False Starts and My Midlife Quest to Dance the Nutcracker
The Nutcracker Chronicles, a modern twist on the beloved holiday ballet, intertwines the story of Clara and her nutcracker prince with the true-life stories that unfold backstage.
Janine Kovac was seven years old when she got a fluttery feeling in her chest while watching her first performance of The Nutcracker. From that moment, she knew she wanted to be a ballerina. It wasn’t long before she herself was dancing the part of a snowflake, flower, mouse, soldier, and Fritz, Clara’s brother, who snatches the nutcracker from her and yanks off its head—all in search of the magic she felt only on the stage.
The Nutcracker Chronicles tells the story of Janine’s pursuit of an elusive dream that compels her to endure blistered toes, weekly weigh-ins, second-hand pointe shoes, and constant insults from her directors. Why can’t you just dance like a pretty girl?
Over a twelve-year career, Janine dances with ballet companies in San Francisco, Seattle, Germany, Iceland, and Italy, returning home every holiday season to perform The Nutcracker with Ballet El Paso. Despite the challenges of the ballet world, Janine can’t resist the inner glow and effortlessness she feels on stage, under the lights, dancing to Tchaikovsky in the Land of Sweets, ruled by a sugar plum fairy. That’s when she feels beautiful.
Praise for “The Nutcracker Chronicles”
“Smart, vivid, and full of heart, Kovac nails what it feels like to be a little kid with a big dream, then fearlessly leads us to that dream's realization and--maybe best of all--to what comes after.” —Sara Nović, New York Times bestselling author of True Biz and Girl at War
"This book is a triumph for our times and a tribute to every one of us who knows what it means to feel more than see the beauty around and in us.”
—Putsata Reang, author of Pacific Northwest Book Award winner “Ma and Me”
"For those who love dance, for those who know nothing of dance, this bittersweet book will speak to you about perseverance, friendship, and what is really important."
—Lauren Kessler, author of Raising the Barre: Big Dream, False Starts and My Midlife Quest to Dance the Nutcracker
216 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2816 people want to read
About the author
Janine Kovac
8 books51 followersJanine Kovac (she/her) writes about power dynamics and women’s bodies. Her work has appeared in Under the Sun, Bellingham Review, Jet Fuel Review, Pangyrus, New Ohio Review, Writer’s Digest, Publishers Weekly, Santa Fe Writers Project and elsewhere.
A former professional ballet dancer, Janine trained at San Francisco Ballet and in Ghent Belgium before embarking on a twelve-year career dancing in Iceland, Italy, Austria, San Francisco, and in her hometown of El Paso, Texas.
After retiring from the stage, Janine graduated magna cum laude from U.C. Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science. Her distinctions include the Glushko Prize for Distinguished Research in Cognitive Science, the Elizabeth George Foundation Fellowship from Hedgebrook, the Calderwood Fellowship for Journalism from MacDowell, a New Millennium Writings Award for Nonfiction, and the San Francisco Foundation/Nomadic Press Award. She is the recipient of a Courage to Write “Writer of Note” grant from the de Groot Foundation and her fiction is sponsored by Fractured Atlas.
Janine is the author of Brain Changer: A Mother’s Guide to Cognitive Science and Spinning: Choreography for Coming Home. Spinning was a semifinalist for Publishers Weekly’s BookLife Prize and a winner of the National Indie Excellence Awards. Her memoir The Nutcracker Chronicles intertwines The Nutcracker ballet with the true life stories that unfold backstage, and is forthcoming from She Writes Press in October of 2024.
In addition to dancing, writing, and parenting, Janine teaches Scrivener workshops to writers of all levels. She lives in Northern California with her family.
A former professional ballet dancer, Janine trained at San Francisco Ballet and in Ghent Belgium before embarking on a twelve-year career dancing in Iceland, Italy, Austria, San Francisco, and in her hometown of El Paso, Texas.
After retiring from the stage, Janine graduated magna cum laude from U.C. Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science. Her distinctions include the Glushko Prize for Distinguished Research in Cognitive Science, the Elizabeth George Foundation Fellowship from Hedgebrook, the Calderwood Fellowship for Journalism from MacDowell, a New Millennium Writings Award for Nonfiction, and the San Francisco Foundation/Nomadic Press Award. She is the recipient of a Courage to Write “Writer of Note” grant from the de Groot Foundation and her fiction is sponsored by Fractured Atlas.
Janine is the author of Brain Changer: A Mother’s Guide to Cognitive Science and Spinning: Choreography for Coming Home. Spinning was a semifinalist for Publishers Weekly’s BookLife Prize and a winner of the National Indie Excellence Awards. Her memoir The Nutcracker Chronicles intertwines The Nutcracker ballet with the true life stories that unfold backstage, and is forthcoming from She Writes Press in October of 2024.
In addition to dancing, writing, and parenting, Janine teaches Scrivener workshops to writers of all levels. She lives in Northern California with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 20, 2025
I was gifted this book and loved it. It was powerful to read a story that I identified so closely with.
December 8, 2024
I loved so much about this memoir! First, the technical prowess in creating an arc that parallels the Nutcracker story - such a clever way to construct the book. Second, seeing the world of ballet - including the ending of Kovac's professional ballet career - through an aspiring dancer's eyes, the good, the bad, and the "why can't you dance like a pretty girl?" Ouch. Finally, the shifts and rebalances that the author continually makes in search of finding peace with a passion that can be so hard on its disciples. It's a perfect read for the month of December, too...
December 8, 2025
I was stuck between giving this 4 or 5 stars.
At the beginning the time jumps are a bit confusing and sad, but that does get better towards the end and I think it redeemed itself.
At the beginning the time jumps are a bit confusing and sad, but that does get better towards the end and I think it redeemed itself.
July 24, 2024
Seeing The Nutcracker every year put on by our local ballet company has become a tradition for me, so I was immediately intrigued with this book. This memoir is about so much more than ballet -- though it was incredibly interesting reading about the life of a dancer. It's also about pursuing your passions, and finding out how to continue being creative when we put our lives on hold. A great read if you're interested in ballet at all but also if you're struggling to reconcile normal life duties with following your dreams!
December 31, 2024
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...
The theme isn’t Christmas exactly, but “The Nutcracker” – and specifically, the danced ballet version. I know very little about the lives of professional dancers, so this was also educational for me. And certainly, as the author danced in many versions of The Nutcracker over the years, I learned that many of her “seasons” and contracts with various ballet companies structured their terms around this annual performance!
We meet Janine as a child in El Paso, where she first starts taking lessons. She falls into the habit young of constantly comparing herself to the other girls around her – some blonder, some with fancier ballet shoes, etc. As she grows up, ballet becomes an even bigger part of her life, and she finds herself facing down weekly weigh-ins and having to obsess over such things. She goes to ballet camps and schools in different cities, away from her parents, so she is also facing these obstacles on her own.
She always kind of struggles to find herself in a place that feels permanent, but she does get to dance in places as far off as Iceland and Italy!
Eventually, she marries another dancer. As she gets pregnant, and they go on to have three children, she sometimes finds herself jealous that her husband can still dance at a higher level than she now can.
But as her kids start to grow up, and start dancing themselves, she finds herself in the position to teach young, aspiring dancers… and question the ways things were done when she was younger. Some examples: how her younger self was made to feel like everyone around her was competition, or how the Chinese-inspired dance sequence in The Nutcracker could be done with less cultural appropriation.
She’s grown up doing this particular ballet, and we see by the end just how much growing she’s done – even while she’s still helping to put on performances of the same ballet.
The theme isn’t Christmas exactly, but “The Nutcracker” – and specifically, the danced ballet version. I know very little about the lives of professional dancers, so this was also educational for me. And certainly, as the author danced in many versions of The Nutcracker over the years, I learned that many of her “seasons” and contracts with various ballet companies structured their terms around this annual performance!
We meet Janine as a child in El Paso, where she first starts taking lessons. She falls into the habit young of constantly comparing herself to the other girls around her – some blonder, some with fancier ballet shoes, etc. As she grows up, ballet becomes an even bigger part of her life, and she finds herself facing down weekly weigh-ins and having to obsess over such things. She goes to ballet camps and schools in different cities, away from her parents, so she is also facing these obstacles on her own.
She always kind of struggles to find herself in a place that feels permanent, but she does get to dance in places as far off as Iceland and Italy!
Eventually, she marries another dancer. As she gets pregnant, and they go on to have three children, she sometimes finds herself jealous that her husband can still dance at a higher level than she now can.
But as her kids start to grow up, and start dancing themselves, she finds herself in the position to teach young, aspiring dancers… and question the ways things were done when she was younger. Some examples: how her younger self was made to feel like everyone around her was competition, or how the Chinese-inspired dance sequence in The Nutcracker could be done with less cultural appropriation.
She’s grown up doing this particular ballet, and we see by the end just how much growing she’s done – even while she’s still helping to put on performances of the same ballet.
November 7, 2024
Kovac got her start in ballet the way so many children do: with the Nutcracker. Even when the magic of the show was ruined by seeing it up close, behind the scenes, something in it called to her. And as she stayed with it, with the Nutcracker and with ballet, advancing her technique, she knew that this, this was what she wanted to do.
I didn't always find my inner light, but I always worked for it. When I did catch it, if felt like catching a live wire. (loc. 1587*)
By my reckoning, Kovac was successful as a dancer; she danced professionally for years, in the US and internationally, and was able—more or less—to sustain herself doing so; in the arts, that is no sure thing. But there are varying degrees of success, and one of the things that makes The Nutcracker Chronicles so interesting is that Kovac was not a principal dancer or dancing for, e.g., NYCB; she was a working dancer, doing things she loved and constantly striving to improve, but she never really had a sense that she'd 'made it'. I love the way she talks about dancing Fritz in the Nutcracker (becoming one with the role, quite by accident, by dint of jealousy of the girl playing Clara), and the way she describes the ballet world in El Paso, where she grew up and learned to dance:
My mother always said Ballet El Paso's party scene [in the Nutcracker] was the best party scene she'd ever seen. Better than the Baryshnikov version on PBS and Pacific Ballet's movie put together. Better even than San Francisco Ballet.
"When you're watching San Francisco Ballet, you know it's going to be perfect. But with Ballet El Paso, you never knew what was going to happen. It was like a real party."
It was true. Someone's costume might tear, or a piece of precariously built scenery would break. In 1982, the guy who danced the role of Clara and Fritz's father packed his pipe with pot and smoked it onstage; the same guy spiked the party punch with vodka. Once, Drosselmeier didn't show up to the party at all, rumored to be stuck in the drunk tank of a Juárez jail cell. Fritz had to be the one to give Clara the nutcracker, only to grab it from her thirty-two counts later to break it. (loc. 252)
I love this because it feels real—not that young dancers shouldn't dream of dancing for NYCB and ABT and so on, but the vast majority of dancers don't, and I'm...I was going to say I'm just as interested in reading about the smaller, scrappier ballets, but actually in some ways I'm more interested in the smaller companies (later in the book, Kovac describes dancing in Italy on a stage so small that they had to replace some of their props—for example, borrowing the only table in the only café in the village), because their stories feel so specific and also with (if I'm honest) less risk of the book becoming one long name-drop.
This is a good story, and it's good writing. I don't know where Kovac found her early readers, but she has quotes from Sara Nović and Putsata Reang, and my gosh I swooned when I saw that (generally I don't bother to read praise quotes, and I can't for the life of me tell you what either of these ones said, but my eyes caught on the names because they're two of the small number of authors who have written books for which I really have no critiques. (And: I'm happy to report that they have good taste.)
Probably nobody else has had Kovac's exact career trajectory. Her career eventually went the way of many—but what that means, I'll leave you to read.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
I didn't always find my inner light, but I always worked for it. When I did catch it, if felt like catching a live wire. (loc. 1587*)
By my reckoning, Kovac was successful as a dancer; she danced professionally for years, in the US and internationally, and was able—more or less—to sustain herself doing so; in the arts, that is no sure thing. But there are varying degrees of success, and one of the things that makes The Nutcracker Chronicles so interesting is that Kovac was not a principal dancer or dancing for, e.g., NYCB; she was a working dancer, doing things she loved and constantly striving to improve, but she never really had a sense that she'd 'made it'. I love the way she talks about dancing Fritz in the Nutcracker (becoming one with the role, quite by accident, by dint of jealousy of the girl playing Clara), and the way she describes the ballet world in El Paso, where she grew up and learned to dance:
My mother always said Ballet El Paso's party scene [in the Nutcracker] was the best party scene she'd ever seen. Better than the Baryshnikov version on PBS and Pacific Ballet's movie put together. Better even than San Francisco Ballet.
"When you're watching San Francisco Ballet, you know it's going to be perfect. But with Ballet El Paso, you never knew what was going to happen. It was like a real party."
It was true. Someone's costume might tear, or a piece of precariously built scenery would break. In 1982, the guy who danced the role of Clara and Fritz's father packed his pipe with pot and smoked it onstage; the same guy spiked the party punch with vodka. Once, Drosselmeier didn't show up to the party at all, rumored to be stuck in the drunk tank of a Juárez jail cell. Fritz had to be the one to give Clara the nutcracker, only to grab it from her thirty-two counts later to break it. (loc. 252)
I love this because it feels real—not that young dancers shouldn't dream of dancing for NYCB and ABT and so on, but the vast majority of dancers don't, and I'm...I was going to say I'm just as interested in reading about the smaller, scrappier ballets, but actually in some ways I'm more interested in the smaller companies (later in the book, Kovac describes dancing in Italy on a stage so small that they had to replace some of their props—for example, borrowing the only table in the only café in the village), because their stories feel so specific and also with (if I'm honest) less risk of the book becoming one long name-drop.
This is a good story, and it's good writing. I don't know where Kovac found her early readers, but she has quotes from Sara Nović and Putsata Reang, and my gosh I swooned when I saw that (generally I don't bother to read praise quotes, and I can't for the life of me tell you what either of these ones said, but my eyes caught on the names because they're two of the small number of authors who have written books for which I really have no critiques. (And: I'm happy to report that they have good taste.)
Probably nobody else has had Kovac's exact career trajectory. Her career eventually went the way of many—but what that means, I'll leave you to read.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
November 29, 2024
This book is for anyone whose every been the understudy… your story matters too.
This memoir starts with Janine Kovac like other children confronted by ballet through the Nutcracker. This set off a life long love between Kovac and ballet. Kovac examines what drives us to continue to make art when we are not the ones winning the awards or getting the principal roles. Kovac also ends with one of her least acclaimed but deeply for-filling role of mother. I found this book inspiring in the way it tells us we are enough as we are.
Noteworthy moments:
The book contains some beautiful poignant moments about drive like this one:
“”Are you okay?”
“Are you hurt?”
“Do you want a doctor?”
“Do you need anything?”
“Do you think you can dance tonight?”
I answered, “Yes,” to all the questions.”
The book also like the inclusion of what’s in the makeup bag and sewing kit in the between acts section.
Ideal Reader:
A memoir reader looking for a feel-good inspiring journey.
A reader who wants to know about behind the scenes of the ballet.
A reader who is interested journeys to motherhood.
Keywords:
Ballet; Nutcracker; Memoir; Motherhood; Supporting-roles; Artistic Journey
This memoir starts with Janine Kovac like other children confronted by ballet through the Nutcracker. This set off a life long love between Kovac and ballet. Kovac examines what drives us to continue to make art when we are not the ones winning the awards or getting the principal roles. Kovac also ends with one of her least acclaimed but deeply for-filling role of mother. I found this book inspiring in the way it tells us we are enough as we are.
Noteworthy moments:
The book contains some beautiful poignant moments about drive like this one:
“”Are you okay?”
“Are you hurt?”
“Do you want a doctor?”
“Do you need anything?”
“Do you think you can dance tonight?”
I answered, “Yes,” to all the questions.”
The book also like the inclusion of what’s in the makeup bag and sewing kit in the between acts section.
Ideal Reader:
A memoir reader looking for a feel-good inspiring journey.
A reader who wants to know about behind the scenes of the ballet.
A reader who is interested journeys to motherhood.
Keywords:
Ballet; Nutcracker; Memoir; Motherhood; Supporting-roles; Artistic Journey
November 17, 2024
I loved the author's way of putting the readers into her memoir from the beginning of the book. If you are a fan of ballet or ballerinas you will love this book! Janine is our author and the memoir sharer in this book. She shows the ups and downs of the industry of ballet dancing from when she was a child and older. There is jealously between dancers, our author was also a real woman compared to the other dancers in the companys. She was not a waife. That resonates well with me as I could never do ballet since I had curves at 10 years old.
The author really puts alot of herself into the book and we as the readers can feel her emotions of 'overeating' and not getting a part. She also tells us of personal meetings with her husband and children as the story progresses. We also get to hear about the triumphs and failures as she gets older and can not dance like she used to when she was younger. This was an emotionally interesting read for fans of ballet dancing and memoirs, and I recommend it.
The author really puts alot of herself into the book and we as the readers can feel her emotions of 'overeating' and not getting a part. She also tells us of personal meetings with her husband and children as the story progresses. We also get to hear about the triumphs and failures as she gets older and can not dance like she used to when she was younger. This was an emotionally interesting read for fans of ballet dancing and memoirs, and I recommend it.
February 18, 2025
The Nutcracker Chronicles is a great performance! I read this book not knowing what to expect, since I’d never read a book written by or about a ballerina. I ended up finishing this book in 24 hours because once I began, I was captivated. Having taken ballet classes as a child for several years, I did have the fantasy desire to be a ballerina. Add to that, the prima ballerina Mia Slavenska being the former owner of the house my grandmother purchased, so I grew up hearing stories about this famous ballerina and being intrigued by her. As I read The Nutcracker Chronicles and learned about Janine’s journey and the depth of hard work and commitment it takes to make it in the ballet world, I understood why my fantasy of being a ballerina never blossomed. I also understood the joys of performing are as real as they appear. Janine tells an honest story that brings us into the happiness and the hardships of the ballet world. I highly recommend this book for dancers and non-dancers alike.
November 18, 2024
Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this book by BooksForward in exchange for an honest review.
Christmas is coming soon, and that means more Nutcracker-related content! Last year, I reviewed "The Kingdom of Sweets" by Erika Johansen – a novel inspired by both the ballet and the book "Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E.T.A. Hoffman. This year, I’ll take a look at "The Nutcracker Chronicles: A Fairytale Memoir" by Janine Kovac – a memoir written by a former ballet dancer who participated in numerous performances of The Nutcracker ballet. It’s a great book detailing the author’s struggles in the ballet world while recounting her relationship with the famous story.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
Christmas is coming soon, and that means more Nutcracker-related content! Last year, I reviewed "The Kingdom of Sweets" by Erika Johansen – a novel inspired by both the ballet and the book "Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E.T.A. Hoffman. This year, I’ll take a look at "The Nutcracker Chronicles: A Fairytale Memoir" by Janine Kovac – a memoir written by a former ballet dancer who participated in numerous performances of The Nutcracker ballet. It’s a great book detailing the author’s struggles in the ballet world while recounting her relationship with the famous story.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
August 15, 2024
The Nutcracker Chronicles takes you inside the world and the heart of a ballet dancer as she strives and struggles to pursue her dream. Kovac’s story is told in vivid detail from her beginnings in El Paso, Texas to the stages of Europe and San Francisco. Yes, there are hardships but also love — for the art, the performance, the audience.
Kovac’s voice is clear and heartfelt. With her deep passion for ballet, she shares her insecurities and concerns as a ballet dancer and later as a teacher. You don’t need to know a pique pirouette from an arabesque balance to appreciate her inspiring story. When she falters, you want her to get up and keep going which she does again and again. This an uplifting memoir about a professional woman who finds her place on and off the stage.
Kovac’s voice is clear and heartfelt. With her deep passion for ballet, she shares her insecurities and concerns as a ballet dancer and later as a teacher. You don’t need to know a pique pirouette from an arabesque balance to appreciate her inspiring story. When she falters, you want her to get up and keep going which she does again and again. This an uplifting memoir about a professional woman who finds her place on and off the stage.
February 16, 2025
I love this book. Kovac takes us behind the scenes of the Nutcracker ballet into the daily life of a ballerina. Using the format of The Nutcracker, she parallels each dance with her offstage experiences. Kovac gives us an honest account of struggles with choreography, classes, and companies. She loves to dance. That is clear. She knows better than all of her instructors. Dance isn't just steps, it's listening to the voice inside you telling you to defy gravity and insults. You will laugh and cry. This is a book every teen or adult will appreciate because it validates that voice inside us that tells us not to give up. Kovac inspires us to get up every time we fall even if we have never worn leotards or tutus.
November 11, 2024
The Nutcracker is a magical fairytale that I love! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a real life Nutcracker dancer. Learning about the behind the scenes of the ballet and how hard Janine had to work made me have that much more respect for the ballet. Janine was lucky to have danced in so many different places and countries. Her love of dance shone through her words. I also enjoyed learning about Janine as a person. This magical story brought me back to the time I went to see the Nutcracker on Broadway. It was magical. Now, excuse me while I go watch it.
November 30, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley, Janine Kovac, and She Writes Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Nutcracker Chronicles: A Fairytale Memoir in the return of an honest review. I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I would recommend this book to anyone who admires the Nutcracker and ballet in general. There is a lot of depth and emotion as the author takes us on her journey throughout life. I have a greater respect for those that work in ballet after reading this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who admires the Nutcracker and ballet in general. There is a lot of depth and emotion as the author takes us on her journey throughout life. I have a greater respect for those that work in ballet after reading this book.
November 14, 2024
An absolutely lovely memoir of the heartbreaks and celebration of dance throughout a lifetime of Nutcrackers. A perfect gift for a pre-professional, professional or retired dancer; or simply someone who dreamed of being on the stage at Christmas time.
The author weaves her experiences of disappointment and determination among continents with stops for history lessons and thoughtful commentary on the abuses and beauties of the ballet world.
The author weaves her experiences of disappointment and determination among continents with stops for history lessons and thoughtful commentary on the abuses and beauties of the ballet world.
December 20, 2024
Beautiful memoir; perfect gift for a dance lover
An absolutely lovely memoir of the heartbreaks and celebration of dance throughout a lifetime of Nutcrackers. A perfect gift for a pre-professional, professional or retired dancer; or simply someone who dreamed of being on the stage at Christmas time. The author weaves her experiences of disappointment and determination among continents with stops for history lessons and thoughtful commentary on the abuses and beauties of the ballet world.
An absolutely lovely memoir of the heartbreaks and celebration of dance throughout a lifetime of Nutcrackers. A perfect gift for a pre-professional, professional or retired dancer; or simply someone who dreamed of being on the stage at Christmas time. The author weaves her experiences of disappointment and determination among continents with stops for history lessons and thoughtful commentary on the abuses and beauties of the ballet world.
December 20, 2024
Beautiful memoir; perfect gift for a dance lover
An absolutely lovely memoir of the heartbreaks and celebration of dance throughout a lifetime of Nutcrackers. A perfect gift for a pre-professional, professional or retired dancer; or simply someone who dreamed of being on the stage at Christmas time. The author weaves her experiences of disappointment and determination among continents with stops for history lessons and thoughtful commentary on the abuses and beauties of the ballet world.
An absolutely lovely memoir of the heartbreaks and celebration of dance throughout a lifetime of Nutcrackers. A perfect gift for a pre-professional, professional or retired dancer; or simply someone who dreamed of being on the stage at Christmas time. The author weaves her experiences of disappointment and determination among continents with stops for history lessons and thoughtful commentary on the abuses and beauties of the ballet world.
December 22, 2024
Beautiful memoir; perfect gift for a dance lover
An absolutely lovely memoir of the heartbreaks and celebration of dance throughout a lifetime of Nutcrackers. A perfect gift for a pre-professional, professional or retired dancer; or simply someone who dreamed of being on the stage at Christmas time. The author weaves her experiences of disappointment and determination among continents with stops for history lessons and thoughtful commentary on the abuses and beauties of the ballet world.
An absolutely lovely memoir of the heartbreaks and celebration of dance throughout a lifetime of Nutcrackers. A perfect gift for a pre-professional, professional or retired dancer; or simply someone who dreamed of being on the stage at Christmas time. The author weaves her experiences of disappointment and determination among continents with stops for history lessons and thoughtful commentary on the abuses and beauties of the ballet world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2024
This book made me remember how I felt as a dancer growing up, both the good and the not so good. I loved how she structured this memoir as sharing so many little moments that made it all worth it. It was so heartwarming to read about someone’s love of dance and their dedication to getting better no matter where they started and at what level. Thank you to BFF for sending g me a copy!
July 24, 2024
"The Nutcracker Chronicles" delves deep into the ballet world and the tradition of "The Nutcracker". She writes beautifully about the blood, sweat, tears and absolute devotion that comes hand in hand with performing. I would highly recommend this book!
December 23, 2025
this brought up so many emotions for me as someone who danced as a child. the Nutcracker was such a magical time and I danced in it 3 times. But I also dealt with a grown woman bullying children. I really resonated with a lot of Janine's inner dialog of not feeling good enough.
February 17, 2025
A deeply moving memoir about memory, art, and artistry. I’m really happy Mr student recommended it to me.
January 1, 2025
This book was a beautiful and nostalgic memoir. While I was never a professional dancer, my many years of ballet and a brief stint in a pre professional company made this book feel so relatable.
Sitting here now as a 40 year old mom who sometimes teaches ballet on the side or sneaks my way into the party scene of the Nutcracker, I can relate so much too to the feelings expressed of that time being over and different. Not being able to do the same steps anymore, but feeling the music move something inside of you.
I think all dancers must feel these things in different ways through different experiences. It was so rewarding and comforting to see them written down.
While it was a personal story, it also felt very universal, and a shared experience. Much like every performance of the Nutcracker!
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!
Sitting here now as a 40 year old mom who sometimes teaches ballet on the side or sneaks my way into the party scene of the Nutcracker, I can relate so much too to the feelings expressed of that time being over and different. Not being able to do the same steps anymore, but feeling the music move something inside of you.
I think all dancers must feel these things in different ways through different experiences. It was so rewarding and comforting to see them written down.
While it was a personal story, it also felt very universal, and a shared experience. Much like every performance of the Nutcracker!
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!
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