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Ballet Theatre Chronicles #1
Off Balance
Alice thinks she’s accepted the loss of her ballet career, injury having forced her to trade in pointe shoes onstage for spreadsheets upstairs. That is, until the day Alice's boss asks her to befriend Lana, a pretty new company member he’s got his eye on. Lana represents all Alice has lost, not just as a ballet dancer, but as a motherless daughter. It’s pain she’s kept hidden, even from herself, as every good ballet dancer knows to do.
Lana, lonely and unmoored, desperately needs some help, and her mother, back home, vows eternal support. But when Lana begins to profit from Alice’s advice and help, her mother’s constant attention curdles into something more sinister.
Together, both women must embark on a journey of painful rediscoveries, not just about career opportunities won and lost, but the mothers they thought they knew.
OFF BALANCE takes the reader beyond the glitter of the stage to expose the sweat and struggle, amid the mandate to sustain the illusion at all cost.
From the Publisher
Advance Praise for OFF BALANCE
"Any readers who have ever grappled to find the courage to strengthen or to soften, to embrace a dream or to let go of one, will find themselves rooting for the two willful, yet wounded, protagonists in Terez Mertes Rose's edgy debut, OFF BALANCE. I loved this exquisitely written, fast-paced novel from the first page to the last." -- Sandra Kring, bestselling author of The Book of Bright Ideas
“The demands of the stage—or memories of it—bring two lifelong dancers into an unlikely friendship that helps them face their respective breaking points. Powerfully rendered, sensuously artistic and hauntingly beautiful, OFF BALANCE is on track to become one of my favorite reads of the year.” -- Tara Staley, author of Need to Breathe and Conditions are Favorable
"... A realistic and gripping account of the grittier side of ballet." -- Grier Cooper, author of Wish
Lana, lonely and unmoored, desperately needs some help, and her mother, back home, vows eternal support. But when Lana begins to profit from Alice’s advice and help, her mother’s constant attention curdles into something more sinister.
Together, both women must embark on a journey of painful rediscoveries, not just about career opportunities won and lost, but the mothers they thought they knew.
OFF BALANCE takes the reader beyond the glitter of the stage to expose the sweat and struggle, amid the mandate to sustain the illusion at all cost.
From the Publisher
Advance Praise for OFF BALANCE
"Any readers who have ever grappled to find the courage to strengthen or to soften, to embrace a dream or to let go of one, will find themselves rooting for the two willful, yet wounded, protagonists in Terez Mertes Rose's edgy debut, OFF BALANCE. I loved this exquisitely written, fast-paced novel from the first page to the last." -- Sandra Kring, bestselling author of The Book of Bright Ideas
“The demands of the stage—or memories of it—bring two lifelong dancers into an unlikely friendship that helps them face their respective breaking points. Powerfully rendered, sensuously artistic and hauntingly beautiful, OFF BALANCE is on track to become one of my favorite reads of the year.” -- Tara Staley, author of Need to Breathe and Conditions are Favorable
"... A realistic and gripping account of the grittier side of ballet." -- Grier Cooper, author of Wish
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2015
323 people are currently reading
1683 people want to read
About the author
Terez Mertes Rose
5 books200 followersTerez Mertes Rose is a writer and former ballet dancer whose work has appeared in the Crab Orchard Review, Literary Mama, Women Who Eat (Seal Press), A Woman’s Europe (Travelers’ Tales), the Philadelphia Inquirer and the San Jose Mercury News. She reviews dance performances for Bachtrack.com and blogs about ballet and classical music at The Classical Girl. The author of the Ballet Theatre Chronicles (OFF BALANCE, OUTSIDE THE LIMELIGHT, BALLET ORPHANS, OTHER STAGES) and A Dancer's Guide to Africa, she makes her home with family in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She loves good food, good wine, great books, and a good (but not too hard) adult ballet class. She's proud to announce that Outside the Limelight, Book 2 of the Ballet Theatre Chronicles, was named a Best Book of 2017 by Kirkus Reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 11, 2015
I liked this book, but I wasn't overwhelmed with love for it. I'm not sure if I thought there were too many characters or too much going on. Some things seemed bizarrely extraneous with no relationship to the rest of the story.
Alice is a bit of an odd character with almost too much turmoil. I'm not sure I like her, but I feel like I'm supposed to. Too much of the story pitted her against Lana, a character you can't help but feel sorry for (and yet slightly annoyed with the entire time).
Gil isn't a believable character. And rather than see him develop into a better character, it gets rushed and sort of told to us.
Also not sure why Alice has so much discord with her best friend. I didn't get how that tied in.
I am sort of curious to see where this goes so I will probably read the next one.
Alice is a bit of an odd character with almost too much turmoil. I'm not sure I like her, but I feel like I'm supposed to. Too much of the story pitted her against Lana, a character you can't help but feel sorry for (and yet slightly annoyed with the entire time).
Gil isn't a believable character. And rather than see him develop into a better character, it gets rushed and sort of told to us.
Also not sure why Alice has so much discord with her best friend. I didn't get how that tied in.
I am sort of curious to see where this goes so I will probably read the next one.
August 19, 2019
Um, who recommended this? Not my scene at all. Sorry.
July 3, 2016
Enjoyed this insight into the world of professional ballet dancers.
June 23, 2015
This is a real page-turner! The story centers on two dancers, one post-career and one just on the cusp of "making it." These characters are interesting and paradoxical; good people who occasionally still act on bad impulse. Their stories begin separately, illustrating two compelling sides of isolation. On one hand is an administrator, Alice, whose dancing career was forever sidelined by injury, still unable to attend a performance without overwhelming emotion and even tears. On the other is a new dancer to the company, Lana, so talented that the other dancers avoid her, so broke she can barely afford life in her new town, San Francisco. And she's a long way from Kansas, where her family lives and constantly tugs at her feelings of family obligation. As their stories merge, so do they both emerge from their isolation. They each face some tough demons, both internal and external, and the end is quite satisfying. Five stars!
August 3, 2015
I know very little about ballet and was somewhat hesitant to read Off Balance because of my lack of knowledge. In fact, I tend to shy away from books that have a focus on something I don’t know much about. I’m worried I won’t understand certain things or I won’t enjoy the story as much as someone that has a deeper understanding of the subject. However, I didn’t need to worry with this book. Even without extensive ballet knowledge, I was still able to thoroughly enjoy the book.
Overall, this was a really good book. Off Balance was well written and kept my attention from the very beginning. The characters, especially Lana and Alice (and maybe Gil), really brought the story to life. I can definitely see myself reading the next book in the series.
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
Overall, this was a really good book. Off Balance was well written and kept my attention from the very beginning. The characters, especially Lana and Alice (and maybe Gil), really brought the story to life. I can definitely see myself reading the next book in the series.
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
June 8, 2015
I appreciate good character development along with an engaging story and excellent writing is required to hold my interest. Off balance provides that and more. Not being a dancer I wasn't sure it would be for me, but it worked well. Finding one's way in the world is complicated and I liked the way that Alice helped Lana make the transition to her new highly visible role. They both have their struggles and their relationship is good for both of them. In the end, I learned much about the world of ballet and have a much better idea of what goes on behind the scenes. I am looking forward to the next one!
June 4, 2017
I have always felt drawn to the ballet world, not for the limelight but for its philosophy of unrelenting sacrifice producing absolute beauty.... if you have ever seen Roberto Bolle perform, you'll know what I'm talking about. LOL.
Off Balance is an insider's guide to this seemingly gilded world inhabited by fairies, charming princes and star-crossed lovers but also by greedy patrons, by artistic directors with as big an ego as you can get, and by Jealousy the Witch. The author tells us the story of Alice, Lena and Gil with the confidence deriving from her being a former ballet dancer herself. There is no sugar-coating of the physycal and emotional strain under which young people in their early twenties have to submit themselves in order to follow their dreams; there is no pity in the portayal of the lengths every member of a ballet company has to go in order to keep his/her creature floating in a sea full of sharks; but, above all, you can feel the love and respect for this craft pouring from every word.
This is a beautiful story, a coming-of-age that will turn a naive young girl into one who 'can play that game too' and will force an older girl to face her burdensome past.
I think I might have found another must-read author.
Off Balance is an insider's guide to this seemingly gilded world inhabited by fairies, charming princes and star-crossed lovers but also by greedy patrons, by artistic directors with as big an ego as you can get, and by Jealousy the Witch. The author tells us the story of Alice, Lena and Gil with the confidence deriving from her being a former ballet dancer herself. There is no sugar-coating of the physycal and emotional strain under which young people in their early twenties have to submit themselves in order to follow their dreams; there is no pity in the portayal of the lengths every member of a ballet company has to go in order to keep his/her creature floating in a sea full of sharks; but, above all, you can feel the love and respect for this craft pouring from every word.
This is a beautiful story, a coming-of-age that will turn a naive young girl into one who 'can play that game too' and will force an older girl to face her burdensome past.
I think I might have found another must-read author.
December 24, 2023
Ballet fic is one of my favorite genres to read during the holiday season (& one of my favorite genres in general), but this one didn’t quite do it for me. A lot of it was problematic, and so dryyyyy to boot; I read this subgenre for cutthroat tension, not for over the top/unnecessary melodrama, and unfortunately this book had too much of the latter. There were also a few things left unanswered and unsolved. I know this is part of a series, but I’m uncertain if I’ll pick up any of the others
May 5, 2018
Outstanding!
This book was enjoyable from so many angles. I know nothing about ballet, but this is about so much more. You don’t need to understand ballet to enjoy this book. Much of it is about overcoming that which haunts you. Facing the future, not the past. Learning to trust. Learning to love.
The depth of the characters was amazing. By the end, you felt you really knew each of them personally. Each one of them had their own personal issues to deal with, and you find yourself rooting for each of them. Alice, the dancer who had been in her prime. One misstep and it was all over. The pain of sitting behind a desk when your heart wants nothing more than to fly across the stage- the prima ballerina. Lana, pretty much self made until she joins the company in San Francisco, leaving behind family issues that continue to haunt her. Gil, the charmer, the chameleon. He is whatever he needs to be in any given situation, until he falls in love with Lana. Andy, the generous billionaire. The lonely, generous billionaire, who loves classical music and hates all the people simpering for his money and attention. Andy, who finds a friend in Alice, who doesn’t want a piece of him, is content to simply share his love of music. The lesser characters- the other dancers, all battling one another to climb the ladder of success, some more gracious than others. Some who will resort to anything to get ahead, both in a world that can change in a heartbeat at the whim of the dance master.
In the process of getting to know the characters, you are introduced into this harsh, all consuming life that is ballet dancing. Status among the dancers is very important. Some dancers will be principals-the leading dancers. Others will be destined to be part of the corps their entire careers. Ballet is done solely for the passion, the love of dancing. It is not “fun.” There is no halfway. Their life is all about one thing- dancing. Hours and hours of intense classes and rehearsals. The food they eat, or rather, don’t eat. Weight is critical. Competition for the roles is fierce. It is something you have to want more than anything else in your life. Nothing else matters. THAT is ballet.
One thing I learned was that a ballet has set choreography, much like the script in a play, the notes in a symphony. It is not up to the individual dancers or choreographers how the steps go. They can adjust the focus some, but the feeling , the passion put into a performance is what makes the difference between productions. It certainly makes sense, I don’t know why that surprised me.
This book was enjoyable from so many angles. I know nothing about ballet, but this is about so much more. You don’t need to understand ballet to enjoy this book. Much of it is about overcoming that which haunts you. Facing the future, not the past. Learning to trust. Learning to love.
The depth of the characters was amazing. By the end, you felt you really knew each of them personally. Each one of them had their own personal issues to deal with, and you find yourself rooting for each of them. Alice, the dancer who had been in her prime. One misstep and it was all over. The pain of sitting behind a desk when your heart wants nothing more than to fly across the stage- the prima ballerina. Lana, pretty much self made until she joins the company in San Francisco, leaving behind family issues that continue to haunt her. Gil, the charmer, the chameleon. He is whatever he needs to be in any given situation, until he falls in love with Lana. Andy, the generous billionaire. The lonely, generous billionaire, who loves classical music and hates all the people simpering for his money and attention. Andy, who finds a friend in Alice, who doesn’t want a piece of him, is content to simply share his love of music. The lesser characters- the other dancers, all battling one another to climb the ladder of success, some more gracious than others. Some who will resort to anything to get ahead, both in a world that can change in a heartbeat at the whim of the dance master.
In the process of getting to know the characters, you are introduced into this harsh, all consuming life that is ballet dancing. Status among the dancers is very important. Some dancers will be principals-the leading dancers. Others will be destined to be part of the corps their entire careers. Ballet is done solely for the passion, the love of dancing. It is not “fun.” There is no halfway. Their life is all about one thing- dancing. Hours and hours of intense classes and rehearsals. The food they eat, or rather, don’t eat. Weight is critical. Competition for the roles is fierce. It is something you have to want more than anything else in your life. Nothing else matters. THAT is ballet.
One thing I learned was that a ballet has set choreography, much like the script in a play, the notes in a symphony. It is not up to the individual dancers or choreographers how the steps go. They can adjust the focus some, but the feeling , the passion put into a performance is what makes the difference between productions. It certainly makes sense, I don’t know why that surprised me.
Read
June 17, 2018Picked this up in the local authors section of the Santa Cruz bookstore. There's something inherently dramatic about backstage ballet stories. If you like that genre, this one doesn't disappoint.
Want to read
March 6, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/6/2022)! 🎁
June 2, 2017
I enjoyed this story, whilst the characters irritated me at times, I'm looking at you Gil, I'm reading the second book now...
November 9, 2015
I might not have read this book if I didn't know the author online, but I am glad I did. It is fascinating and well crafted, with relatable characters and an satisfying plot.
The book is about two ballet dancers at different stages in their careers: Alice is a former soloist who sustained a career-ending injury and now works in arts administration. Lana, a young newcomer, has just joined the company where Alice used to dance. The book follows their unlikely friendship as they wrestle with their own inner demons and their significant relationships with men and with their mothers.
I loved that this book was set in San Francisco, since I have just moved to the SF Bay Area recently myself. I found the setting realistic and compellingly written. The book teases by making you think it's going to be a delicious gossipy behind-the-scenes romp, like "Mozart in the Jungle" but with ballet. And it is that. Wine and cocaine flow freely. There is sex, too, although most of it is off-stage and tastefully described.
What makes this book rise above the tabloid level is the way the author gets into her characters' heads and makes their questionable choices and actions believable and even sympathetic. I especially loved the portrayal of the two lead female characters, Alice and Lana. I will not say I loved the characters themselves, because I didn't. I doubt I would have gotten along with either of them very well in real life, and more than once I was angered or puzzled by the choices they made or by the way they treated other people. It is a sign of how good a writer the author is, though, that she made me care very much about these characters in spite of myself.
Alice comes across as a bit of an emotional wreck at first, an accident waiting to happen. She has never fully healed from the injury that ended her dancing career, especially not emotionally. Although her addictions are not directly labeled as such, she is shown realistically struggling with alcoholism and substance abuse while holding down a seemingly powerful and glamorous job. The fact that she will not watch ballet anymore since the injury is a nice touch; in the hands of a lesser writer that situation could have come across as cliched and overdramatic, but instead it is used deftly at the novel's climax as a way to illustrate and deepen the friendship between Alice and Lana. Lana's relationship with her manipulative and mentally ill mother is also strikingly and poignantly rendered without descending into cliches.
The book's biggest strength is its depiction of the relationships between women: women as friends, mentors, and rivals; mothers and daughters. The male characters come across as less successful to me, although I'd be happy to hear a man's opinion on this. Let's just say the three main male characters are these: 1. an impossibly handsome playboy and boy toy who falls in sincere, genuine love for the first time, with Lana; 2. an enigmatic billionaire patron of the arts who always comes through with the cash when a woman needs him to; and 3. the perfect, patient-but-fun, dependable, long-suffering, caring and forgiving boyfriend with a British name. These guys are great fun to read about, but they only exist in romance novels. And there is a romance novel quality to this book: it has a fairy-tale happy ending on more than one level. This is fitting for a novel about an art form whose main currency is fairy tales.
The mention of fairy tales brings me to my last thought, which is more about me than it is about the book. The author clearly loves ballet more than I do. She is a former dancer herself, and her experience lends the book its atmosphere and attention to detail. And I think one would have to be a dancer in order to convincingly write about characters for whom ballet means as much as life itself.
I took ballet lessons for several years as a child; I was quite untalented. In particular, I was not even close to flexible enough to enable my legs to assume the necessary positions. For example, I could never do a split; could never lift my leg up high enough to do the steps and lifts that ballet dancers do onstage. It wasn't just painful for me to try, it was impossible. There is a passage in this book that describes Lana ripping a blister open on one of her feet and still having to dance en point, right on the blister. Sweat pours into the wound, making it more painful. Blood ruins a pair of new ballet shoes. I never got as far as en pointe, I quit before that was even an option. But I still kind of cringe mentally at the thought of it, like thinking of fingernails on a blackboard. I found this book worth reading for that angle alone: to understand, if only for an afternoon, why people do things like that to themselves, and how it could ever possibly be worth it.
The book is about two ballet dancers at different stages in their careers: Alice is a former soloist who sustained a career-ending injury and now works in arts administration. Lana, a young newcomer, has just joined the company where Alice used to dance. The book follows their unlikely friendship as they wrestle with their own inner demons and their significant relationships with men and with their mothers.
I loved that this book was set in San Francisco, since I have just moved to the SF Bay Area recently myself. I found the setting realistic and compellingly written. The book teases by making you think it's going to be a delicious gossipy behind-the-scenes romp, like "Mozart in the Jungle" but with ballet. And it is that. Wine and cocaine flow freely. There is sex, too, although most of it is off-stage and tastefully described.
What makes this book rise above the tabloid level is the way the author gets into her characters' heads and makes their questionable choices and actions believable and even sympathetic. I especially loved the portrayal of the two lead female characters, Alice and Lana. I will not say I loved the characters themselves, because I didn't. I doubt I would have gotten along with either of them very well in real life, and more than once I was angered or puzzled by the choices they made or by the way they treated other people. It is a sign of how good a writer the author is, though, that she made me care very much about these characters in spite of myself.
Alice comes across as a bit of an emotional wreck at first, an accident waiting to happen. She has never fully healed from the injury that ended her dancing career, especially not emotionally. Although her addictions are not directly labeled as such, she is shown realistically struggling with alcoholism and substance abuse while holding down a seemingly powerful and glamorous job. The fact that she will not watch ballet anymore since the injury is a nice touch; in the hands of a lesser writer that situation could have come across as cliched and overdramatic, but instead it is used deftly at the novel's climax as a way to illustrate and deepen the friendship between Alice and Lana. Lana's relationship with her manipulative and mentally ill mother is also strikingly and poignantly rendered without descending into cliches.
The book's biggest strength is its depiction of the relationships between women: women as friends, mentors, and rivals; mothers and daughters. The male characters come across as less successful to me, although I'd be happy to hear a man's opinion on this. Let's just say the three main male characters are these: 1. an impossibly handsome playboy and boy toy who falls in sincere, genuine love for the first time, with Lana; 2. an enigmatic billionaire patron of the arts who always comes through with the cash when a woman needs him to; and 3. the perfect, patient-but-fun, dependable, long-suffering, caring and forgiving boyfriend with a British name. These guys are great fun to read about, but they only exist in romance novels. And there is a romance novel quality to this book: it has a fairy-tale happy ending on more than one level. This is fitting for a novel about an art form whose main currency is fairy tales.
The mention of fairy tales brings me to my last thought, which is more about me than it is about the book. The author clearly loves ballet more than I do. She is a former dancer herself, and her experience lends the book its atmosphere and attention to detail. And I think one would have to be a dancer in order to convincingly write about characters for whom ballet means as much as life itself.
I took ballet lessons for several years as a child; I was quite untalented. In particular, I was not even close to flexible enough to enable my legs to assume the necessary positions. For example, I could never do a split; could never lift my leg up high enough to do the steps and lifts that ballet dancers do onstage. It wasn't just painful for me to try, it was impossible. There is a passage in this book that describes Lana ripping a blister open on one of her feet and still having to dance en point, right on the blister. Sweat pours into the wound, making it more painful. Blood ruins a pair of new ballet shoes. I never got as far as en pointe, I quit before that was even an option. But I still kind of cringe mentally at the thought of it, like thinking of fingernails on a blackboard. I found this book worth reading for that angle alone: to understand, if only for an afternoon, why people do things like that to themselves, and how it could ever possibly be worth it.
January 18, 2021
Interesting take. I had a hard time with some of the characters here—Alice makes herself so hard to like at times (pitting herself against Lana, who is in a much more fragile position, for no reason other than jealousy; alternating between frostiness and let-me-force-insights-you're-not-ready-for-upon-you), and Gil is just an ass. Ultimately I think I would have preferred a little less sex, drugs, and Tchaikovsky and a little more time spent on Lana's family (to let them, and especially Lana's mother, be more well-rounded characters, and to give Lana more time to process the complexity of the situation). But...I'm also aware that that would change the tenor of the book and perhaps make it a bit more standard.
Not sure if I'll pick up the author's other books. Part of me thinks I'd enjoy them (dance books!), and part of me thinks, But...but my to-read list is already so long...
Not sure if I'll pick up the author's other books. Part of me thinks I'd enjoy them (dance books!), and part of me thinks, But...but my to-read list is already so long...
July 10, 2015
The beauty, depth and accuracy of this story rendered me speechless. Even now I am struggling to retain one comprehensible thought to put down among the millions of thoughts this book engendered. At first glance it is about ballet, but anyone who has ever taken on the demanding, unforgiving master that is ballet will understand that this book is about artistic passion and drive, messy and complicated dynamics of human relationships, and life altering events that I think are an extension of what an actual ballet performance is all about.
I am assuming that the author danced as I did because I can't imagine anyone being able to articulate so flawlessly the pressure and tension of rehearsals gone wrong, the constant need for improvement, the unbending toll the dance takes on the body, and the insane competition one deals with even after they become a professional dancer. Nor can anyone describe the fluid motions, the nuances, the freedom and the emotional highs a dancer experiences when they've hit everything just right, when the positions and placements are prefect-so perfect it resonates within them and through them to the audience-and they're truly in sync with their dance partner. This author provided all of that and more.
Alice is a wonderfully complex character with a host of baggage she hasn't truly dealt with after her injury and the resultant ending of her ballet career. To devote your life to such a demanding profession and then lose that profession to an injury is devastating. I was proud of her for attending Lana's ballet performance, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried with her as I remembered the first time I went to see a ballet after five years of avoiding anything to do with the profession. It was Swan Lake, and I ate every single choreographed movement up while aching inside because I wasn't the one performing it. It's partly the reason why I hesitated to read this book. I knew what kind of toll it would take emotionally.
Lana is vulnerable and fragile, but her resilient nature carries her through some incredibly difficult family dynamics. Her ability to accept hard truths and make choices that place her as a player rather than a pawn made her character so likable. I wanted to watch her succeed, and I cheered for her the entire way through the book. Her friendship with Alice, though rocky at first, becomes a beautiful partnership of strength, trust and encouragement.
This story is about two women who must help one another with the obstacles they face. Lana reminds Alice of what she has lost, of who she could have become, but Lana becomes the catalyst for all of the acceptance and healing Alice is in need of. Lana can't escape her manipulative mother and the crushing weight of her familial responsibilities, but Alice is key in helping her understand that her life and her ballet career aren't selfish choices to make, but worthy goals to pursue. Eventually she is able to confront the wrongs her mother has regularly committed over the years and find the courage to protect her siblings from a mentally ill parent.
There are villains waiting in the wings, there to manipulate and distract, but the standards these women set for themselves and the smart choices they make serve to help them, not only in their careers, but in their love lives as well. You will love and hate Gil. You will love and hate Niles. In the end you'll find that love prevails in a healthy natural way. What a breath of fresh air that was.
Yes, at first glance one might think this book is simply about ballet, but I think any reader, dancer or otherwise, will find the nuances of life and the dynamics of human frailties intricately woven into this spectacular novel, a symbiotic relationship, much like partners in a beautiful dance.
For lovers of beautifully written, thought provoking novels, Off Balance is absolutely a must read. I plan on reading it again while I put on some old pointe shoes and relive a few glory days.
Terez Mertes Rose has created an artistically accurate portrayal of ballet and the players involved. I'm definitely going to continue on with the series to see what more she has in store for me.
I am assuming that the author danced as I did because I can't imagine anyone being able to articulate so flawlessly the pressure and tension of rehearsals gone wrong, the constant need for improvement, the unbending toll the dance takes on the body, and the insane competition one deals with even after they become a professional dancer. Nor can anyone describe the fluid motions, the nuances, the freedom and the emotional highs a dancer experiences when they've hit everything just right, when the positions and placements are prefect-so perfect it resonates within them and through them to the audience-and they're truly in sync with their dance partner. This author provided all of that and more.
Alice is a wonderfully complex character with a host of baggage she hasn't truly dealt with after her injury and the resultant ending of her ballet career. To devote your life to such a demanding profession and then lose that profession to an injury is devastating. I was proud of her for attending Lana's ballet performance, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried with her as I remembered the first time I went to see a ballet after five years of avoiding anything to do with the profession. It was Swan Lake, and I ate every single choreographed movement up while aching inside because I wasn't the one performing it. It's partly the reason why I hesitated to read this book. I knew what kind of toll it would take emotionally.
Lana is vulnerable and fragile, but her resilient nature carries her through some incredibly difficult family dynamics. Her ability to accept hard truths and make choices that place her as a player rather than a pawn made her character so likable. I wanted to watch her succeed, and I cheered for her the entire way through the book. Her friendship with Alice, though rocky at first, becomes a beautiful partnership of strength, trust and encouragement.
This story is about two women who must help one another with the obstacles they face. Lana reminds Alice of what she has lost, of who she could have become, but Lana becomes the catalyst for all of the acceptance and healing Alice is in need of. Lana can't escape her manipulative mother and the crushing weight of her familial responsibilities, but Alice is key in helping her understand that her life and her ballet career aren't selfish choices to make, but worthy goals to pursue. Eventually she is able to confront the wrongs her mother has regularly committed over the years and find the courage to protect her siblings from a mentally ill parent.
There are villains waiting in the wings, there to manipulate and distract, but the standards these women set for themselves and the smart choices they make serve to help them, not only in their careers, but in their love lives as well. You will love and hate Gil. You will love and hate Niles. In the end you'll find that love prevails in a healthy natural way. What a breath of fresh air that was.
Yes, at first glance one might think this book is simply about ballet, but I think any reader, dancer or otherwise, will find the nuances of life and the dynamics of human frailties intricately woven into this spectacular novel, a symbiotic relationship, much like partners in a beautiful dance.
For lovers of beautifully written, thought provoking novels, Off Balance is absolutely a must read. I plan on reading it again while I put on some old pointe shoes and relive a few glory days.
Terez Mertes Rose has created an artistically accurate portrayal of ballet and the players involved. I'm definitely going to continue on with the series to see what more she has in store for me.
April 15, 2018
I read these books out of order but it really does not matter as Off Balance and Outside The Limelight may both deal with the West Coast Ballet Theatre and have some of the same cast this really doesn't matter as each book is about a different set of characters. In Off Balance we are only concerned with Alice (a former soloist for the WCBT who has a horrendous fall on stage that cuts short her career) and Lana a new recruit to the WCBT who is pushed straight in to the role of Soloist much to the chagrin of the established members.
The author's first hand knowledge of what it takes to make a career in the world of Ballet and how much of a toll it takes on your body are obvious throughout the book. You can almost smell the sweat and tears of Company Class and Rehearsals through her prose. I did find myself looking forward to the scenes set at the theatre rather than at Alice's home or at various fundraisers and events. I think this may simply be because I have a love for dance and am intrinsically nosy about what goes on behind the scenes.
The characterisations throughout are wonderfully wrought. The main characters of Alice and Lana are beautifully nuanced, complete people who you find yourself genuinely caring about. Gil is a bit of a waste of space initially and seems to think he is entitled to everything. Lana soon seems to knock that out of him but I did find myself worrying about the effect his rampant ego would have on this doormat of a girl. As the reasons for Lana's rather wet fish personality become apparent you really do start rooting for her to overcome her upbringing. It also serves as a salient reminder, mainly through Alice, that families are never the face they present to the world.
I loved this book and am only sad that there are only 2 books in the series and I have now read both of them.
The author's first hand knowledge of what it takes to make a career in the world of Ballet and how much of a toll it takes on your body are obvious throughout the book. You can almost smell the sweat and tears of Company Class and Rehearsals through her prose. I did find myself looking forward to the scenes set at the theatre rather than at Alice's home or at various fundraisers and events. I think this may simply be because I have a love for dance and am intrinsically nosy about what goes on behind the scenes.
The characterisations throughout are wonderfully wrought. The main characters of Alice and Lana are beautifully nuanced, complete people who you find yourself genuinely caring about. Gil is a bit of a waste of space initially and seems to think he is entitled to everything. Lana soon seems to knock that out of him but I did find myself worrying about the effect his rampant ego would have on this doormat of a girl. As the reasons for Lana's rather wet fish personality become apparent you really do start rooting for her to overcome her upbringing. It also serves as a salient reminder, mainly through Alice, that families are never the face they present to the world.
I loved this book and am only sad that there are only 2 books in the series and I have now read both of them.
June 1, 2015
In Off Balance, Alice is a ballet dancer whose career is tragically cut short due to a terrible injury. Lana is a soloist newcomer to the fictional West Coast Ballet Theatre who earns herself a lead part her first season but few friends as a result. The two women are thrown together by their common connection to ballet and WCBT's director of development who takes a romantic interest in Lana. As Lana transitions away from her family and into life as a soloist dancer, Alice's experience serves her well as a friend and mentor.
Off Balance is actually the first ballet novel that I've read that was written by an actual ballet dancer. It makes such a difference to read about the ballet industry, rehearsals, body issues, and company politics from an author who has lived the life rather than an one who has simply done research. Terez has managed to communicate the essence of ballet life clearly in a way that even non-dancers can easily understand. And I think that most ballet dancers will be able to relate closely with Alice and Lana's struggles on and off the stage.
The book is also a page-turner. The characters are multi-dimensional with raw, gritty back stories. I really appreciated the dialogue which is natural and flows easily. (Stilted dialogue is a pet peeve of mine with novels.) Overall, the book exhibits a wonderful understanding of human nature and the construction of a gripping plot. I'm definitely curious to see what happens in the second book!
Off Balance is actually the first ballet novel that I've read that was written by an actual ballet dancer. It makes such a difference to read about the ballet industry, rehearsals, body issues, and company politics from an author who has lived the life rather than an one who has simply done research. Terez has managed to communicate the essence of ballet life clearly in a way that even non-dancers can easily understand. And I think that most ballet dancers will be able to relate closely with Alice and Lana's struggles on and off the stage.
The book is also a page-turner. The characters are multi-dimensional with raw, gritty back stories. I really appreciated the dialogue which is natural and flows easily. (Stilted dialogue is a pet peeve of mine with novels.) Overall, the book exhibits a wonderful understanding of human nature and the construction of a gripping plot. I'm definitely curious to see what happens in the second book!
October 18, 2015
This woman's fiction has a lot of information about the behind-the-scenes of ballet troupes.
There are two heroines: Allie, who was injured just as she made a name for herself as a ballerina; and young Lana, chosen from a smaller venue as a soloist over the other in-house ballerinas.
Allie has made a new career for herself, working with the administrative branch of the ballet. Even after several years, she's still too raw to even go to practices. Lana is homesick and taken aback by the jealousies and petty schemes of the other women who want to take her place.
Then Allie's boss (who's willing to do anything to raise funds for the ballet and who's a boy-toy for a wealthy woman) falls in love with Lana and unintentionally persuades Allie into mentoring her.
With her own boy-friend problems, Allie doesn't want to be giving advice. But she slowly eases into Lana's life, advising her on dealing with problems with the ballet (mean girls as well as dance steps) and inadvertently discovers Lana's mother (a relationship that she'd been envying) is the source of Lana's uncertainty. Getting that across to Lana without alienating her is as difficult as she fears.
Together, the two women forge an unlikely friendship.
Good read.
There are two heroines: Allie, who was injured just as she made a name for herself as a ballerina; and young Lana, chosen from a smaller venue as a soloist over the other in-house ballerinas.
Allie has made a new career for herself, working with the administrative branch of the ballet. Even after several years, she's still too raw to even go to practices. Lana is homesick and taken aback by the jealousies and petty schemes of the other women who want to take her place.
Then Allie's boss (who's willing to do anything to raise funds for the ballet and who's a boy-toy for a wealthy woman) falls in love with Lana and unintentionally persuades Allie into mentoring her.
With her own boy-friend problems, Allie doesn't want to be giving advice. But she slowly eases into Lana's life, advising her on dealing with problems with the ballet (mean girls as well as dance steps) and inadvertently discovers Lana's mother (a relationship that she'd been envying) is the source of Lana's uncertainty. Getting that across to Lana without alienating her is as difficult as she fears.
Together, the two women forge an unlikely friendship.
Good read.
November 9, 2015
I found this a very informative book on the life of ballet dancers. Because I know someone very well who lives for ballet dancing, I really enjoyed the various descriptions of the role required for a dancer to be successful. The author lead us in the exhilaration of being chosen for various parts in the scheduled performances, as well as in the heartbreak when one is not chosen through the life of Lana, Dena and others. The author helped us to understand the heartbreak when an injury prevents one from continuing with the chosen field of ballet, or for that matter, any other artistic field.
I found the family interactions quite realistic and I was also impressed with the parts of the story which led to an interesting relationship between Alice and Lana.
I was not disappointed that I read this book and would be interested to see what the future holds for a number of the characters in this story, which I received free through BookBub. I would recommend this book to adult family members of ballet dancers, as well as adult dancers, and anyone who loves stories involving arts and competitions.
I found the family interactions quite realistic and I was also impressed with the parts of the story which led to an interesting relationship between Alice and Lana.
I was not disappointed that I read this book and would be interested to see what the future holds for a number of the characters in this story, which I received free through BookBub. I would recommend this book to adult family members of ballet dancers, as well as adult dancers, and anyone who loves stories involving arts and competitions.
October 4, 2017
This wasn't my type of book, but as a ballerina's daughter I couldn't fight the temptation to read about ballet, en pointe shoes, battemans and plies. If I were born beautiful enough I might have ended up a ballerina, too. But, life had other plans )))
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The story was interesting enough to hold my interest and the characters weren't annoying. I was ready to hate Lana, the snowflake character, but she was actually not a bad heroine. And I know a lot of mothers like Lana's, they are exactly as pictured in the book, if not worse. I loved how Lana at last defied her egoistical, self-absorbed, eleven-children-isn't-enough mother.
And I quite liked Alice to keep reading the book till the end just to see how she coped with the mess in her life.
Overall, an engaging story for the genre lovers and an interesting inside into the life of ballet dancers. I will probably read the author's second book, too.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The story was interesting enough to hold my interest and the characters weren't annoying. I was ready to hate Lana, the snowflake character, but she was actually not a bad heroine. And I know a lot of mothers like Lana's, they are exactly as pictured in the book, if not worse. I loved how Lana at last defied her egoistical, self-absorbed, eleven-children-isn't-enough mother.
And I quite liked Alice to keep reading the book till the end just to see how she coped with the mess in her life.
Overall, an engaging story for the genre lovers and an interesting inside into the life of ballet dancers. I will probably read the author's second book, too.
May 25, 2015
This book is incredible. I am not very familiar with ballet, but that didn't matter because the author's writing is phenomenal, and she had the ability to transport me into the performing arts world without skipping a beat. We have an interesting set of characters, notably the ones I adore the most are Lana and Alice. Lana is a young ballet dancer who comes from a home of mental manipulation and guilt. She has attempted to break-free and make her own life thousands of miles away in San Francisco where she goes up against a company of envious ballerinas. Alice is a former ballerina who I love the most. I appreciate her strength, honesty, and the way she embraced Lana after a rocky start. A beautiful story of friendship, passion, and doing the right thing even when it's tremendously hard. Five stars all day long.
April 9, 2016
In "Off Balance" Terez Mertes Rose took me into a world I've always been fascinated with from the outside. She brought to life the inner workings of a ballet company and all of the personalities who make it up, from the young up-and-comer to the veteran dancer whose life has gone in an unexpected direction. Through alternating points of view, this author skillfully unfurls the true nature of each individual. I found myself discovering and rediscovering who everyone was at heart, as little by little their true selves came into focus. By the end of "Off Balance," I had read a very different book than the one I started. Exceptional character development made me care about these people and despite my ignorance of the ballet world and its machinations, she painted for a me picture that was beautiful and relatable and just a little bit gritty. I'm sorry to let these characters go so soon!
July 14, 2015
I have never danced a day in my life guys mostly because I have no hand-eye co-ordination or sense of rhythm so most of the ballet aspect of this book was lost on me but I still loved this book so much. It was all about the relationships between the characters and how relatable Alice and Lana are! They are both at extremely different point in their lives. Alice, working her way past old wounds that never really healed and Lana who is just getting started and trying to ‘make it’ in the Ballet World. They connect wonderfully and each help the other overcome so many obstacles. There was honestly so much girl power in this book! This book was a really relaxing read with just the right amount of drama to keep the reader engaged.
July 15, 2015
Review: OFF BALANCE by Terrz Mertes Rose [Ballet Theatre Chronicles #1]
OFF BALANCE is such a delightfully engrossing, page-turning novel. I was filled with such a sense of excitement which I had not experienced since reading Edward Stewart's BALLERINA many years ago. Once again I found myself in a hectic and fast-paced, hard-driving, competitive, even cutthroat environment, completely new to me but utterly absorbing. Even though I didn't know the playbook, the novel and its many characters [each could be a novel themselves] enwrapped me. A rousing 5 stars and a standing ovation of "BRAVA!"
October 16, 2015
This was a nice read for so many of us would-be ballerinas but also on other levels as well. My main read on this novel is two pronged... Learning not only to deal with what life has dished out for you, but also, to look around and find what gives you joy, wings or happiness. That is Alice's struggle in this novel. And for Lana, it is about leaving home, growing up, and recognizing that sometimes your real family, those that support and want your happiness first, are not family at all. All this and ballet, too!
October 11, 2015
Enjoyable
My exposure to ballet is minimal at best, but do enjoy watching the Nutcracker Suit. However I learned a great deal from this story. The characters seem as confused by life as I was when I was younger, but with much greater prospects of success. Moms the world over are similar, never quite letting daughters go until said daughters let go of Mom and begin living as adults.
My exposure to ballet is minimal at best, but do enjoy watching the Nutcracker Suit. However I learned a great deal from this story. The characters seem as confused by life as I was when I was younger, but with much greater prospects of success. Moms the world over are similar, never quite letting daughters go until said daughters let go of Mom and begin living as adults.
January 3, 2016
An interesting read with depth to the story involving the relationship between Mothers and their daughters- good , bad and downright ugly. The effect this can have on how you live your life even away from the family home, the hold and power wielded over you that takes courage and determination to shake off that not everyone will understand. Friendships can be even more important than family when yours is dysfunctional. A thoughtful read
March 8, 2016
EN POINTE
This story was first of all a good story, with well fleshed characters and a well done plot. It also showed good knowledge of ballet, classical music, and violins. The exposition and use in the plot of the Sibelius violin concerto was particularly good. Personal and family relationships are key parts of the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to friends.
This story was first of all a good story, with well fleshed characters and a well done plot. It also showed good knowledge of ballet, classical music, and violins. The exposition and use in the plot of the Sibelius violin concerto was particularly good. Personal and family relationships are key parts of the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to friends.
January 21, 2018
The book provided insight into the beautiful and manipulative world of professional ballet. Lana is a young dancer with raw talent and overflowing with insecurity. I think she was the best developed character. I found Alice ad Gil's professional relationship a bit strange and I was annoyed at Alice for not using her leverage in the end and standing up more. Most women don't have a billionaire friend to offer them opportunity. All in all a pleasant read.
January 21, 2018
Excellant book of backstage at a ballet company
Chose this because or the subject matter and to see the workings of a company.oIn places it tended to get a little soap opera is but for the most part it was good. Also the ending wasn't a grand everything is wonderful,. It was a very ordination rending where somethings were still left to be discerned and things that did end well still had consequences to them which felt like real life.
Chose this because or the subject matter and to see the workings of a company.oIn places it tended to get a little soap opera is but for the most part it was good. Also the ending wasn't a grand everything is wonderful,. It was a very ordination rending where somethings were still left to be discerned and things that did end well still had consequences to them which felt like real life.
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