Drina Dances Again

Drina #5

by Jean Estoril

A sprained ankle at the start of term forces Drina to stop dancing for a month. However, this gives her the opportunity to play the role of Margaret in the play Dear Brutus for a short run in the West End.

Over summer, Drina and Rose are chosen to dance in The Nutcracker as 'Little Clara' with the Dominick Company at the Edinburgh Festival. Igor Dominick Snr. and Marianne Volanaise also finally discover Drina's secret, but they agree to keep the news private.

Genres: Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Contemporary

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

A pseudonym of Mabel Esther Allan.

Reviews

[Katie]

I've started working my way through the Drina books over the last month or so. I've owned #2 since I was six or seven, and I think I must have found #1 at a library at some point in my childhood; it was very familiar. But I'd never gotten my hands on the rest of the 11-book series, and I always wondered what exactly happened to everyone.

I mean, obviously, Drina grows up to be a wildly successful ballerina. I could have told you that even before I learned that book 11 is called "Drina Ballerina." I am positive that sooner or later, she will dance all the famous roles she dreams of. But beyond that.

Now of course, things like Amazon exist, making it easy to collect cheap used books on a whim. (Bwahahaha.)

And I'm enjoying them very much, in a soothing kind of way. In many ways, they aren't terribly good - although we mainly follow Drina, the narrative jumps heads whenever it's convenient to insert someone else's reaction. There's a lot of telling rather than showing.

And there's a certain degree of formula: Drina is forced into an unfamiliar setting and it is the WORST THING EVER. Drina gradually adjusts. Drina finds a friend and life gets better. Drina gets all the exciting opportunities and the mean girls are nasty about it. Drina is humble although her friends insist that she's brilliantly talented and has a bright future.

And yet, it's all charming. Drina's anxieties are easy to empathize with. She's loyal to her friends, and sticks up for classmates who are less fortunate than she is. She's dedicated and determined and insistent that she'll succeed on her own terms, not because she has a famous (though deceased) ballerina for a mother. In short, she's likable, and the whole exercise feels like reconnecting with an old friend and being pleased for her success.

But that's why I haven't been rating them - these are sweet and pleasant, but often obvious. They're excellent for little girls who love ballet, but not staples of children's literature.

[Kate H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read the Drina books since I was a child and I recently re-read them all. I read the first 5 as a child and then as a teen I hunted down the final 6 once I realized they existed. I am happy to say that for the most part they hold up to the test of time. They are very much in the style of British school stories but I quite like those. I think the whole series is definitely worth the effort it takes to hunt them down.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite Drina book. It was actually kind of boring and formulaic (not that most kids books AREN'T formulaic; I should also point out that I'm reading this as an adult, so maybe it's not so boring and formulaic to its intended audience). The only moderately redeeming part is at the end, when it starts to be known that Drina is the famous Elizabeth Ivory's daughter.

[Sanalith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always find myself waffling between the first book and this one, but I think this might be my favorite of the original five. Part of it is simply the way the book flows from one section to the other - Drina the actress to Drina to dancer - but I also feel like the character grows the most in this volume. I think it might also be the fact that I can picture her experiences more clearly, since she spends so much time dancing in "The Nutcracker," which is the only ballet I've actually seen live. The ending, when some major truths come to light, never ceases to make me smile. Drina's life is finally REALLY moving forward, and it's lovely.

For 10 years, I thought this was the end of the series, and while it certainly does wrap up a lot of major plot lines, I distinctly remember feeling rather unfulfilled. There was nothing truly concrete about the conclusion, and so smaller plot threads were left dangling. But that still didn't stop me from loving the series, and reading it over and over again (clearly!)

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drina returns from Italy to dance at the Dominick once more, but is sidelined with an injury. She is offered a significant part in the James Barrie play, _Dear Brutus_, and (big surprise!) discovers she has a talent for acting. Eventually she is able to return to her first love (and play Clara at the Edinburgh festival). I love most of the books in this series--I think it is the best ballet series written for children (remembering that the inimitable _Ballet Shoes_ was not really part of a series). However this offering is less plausible than some of the others. Are we expected to believe that Drina can do _anything_?
Still, another lovely offering from this prolific (she's Mable Esther Allan, after all) author.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of my most beloved from this series. :) I love ballet stories, and love stage stories - and this one takes my beloved Drina-ballerina and puts her on the West End, in a straight play! Totally awesome.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought there were only 5 books in this series, but looking at the search results, it appears that Drina went on to dance in a number of other countries for about 6 more books...

[Sunne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this series when I was younger, and when I had the chance to get some of these books through bookcrossing, I couldn't resist.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drina has more adventures, both ups and downs, on her way to becoming a ballerina. So many things can go wrong, as happens to Drina's rival, Daphne. And though Drina suffers a minor injury, it gives her another opportunity to act. As Drina grows up, she also is beginning to be more understanding of other people's problems.

[Rachel Abercrombie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye operation comfort read #5

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book where things really start to come together for Drina.

Despite spraining her ankle at the start of term, she uses the time to act in one of her favourite plays and enjoys dancing the role of little Clara in The Nutcracker with the company in Edinburgh. However, Mr Dominick and Madame Volonaise discover her secret and a broken down car causes a great deal of stress.

[Eve Lumerto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I love going back to this. It's probably a little immature of me, but sometimes I really need this world of Drina's, where every accident is a blessing in disguise. This book will always be special because of the Nutcracker.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!!!!!!!!!

[Lisa]

Read this series in JR High and simply LOVED them! I need to track these down.....

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

see review of book #1