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Soar: A Life Freed by Dance
From the backblocks of Perth to international stardom, this is a story of courage to fight against the odds for your passion and succeed.
David McAllister has always belonged onstage. As the middle child in a Catholic family who knew nothing about dance, he watched himself twirl in the reflective glass of the TV and dreamed about becoming the next Rudolf Nureyev. As a little boy taking ballet lessons, he was mercilessly bullied. As a young man joining the ranks of The Australian Ballet, he worried that he would never play the prince because he lacked the height and lean limbs of a classical dancer. Every time he heard ‘no’, he simply did what he loved – danced.
Sure enough, curtains rose for the unlikely prince: he represented Australia on the world stage; he became a principal dancer and performed his dream roles; he fell in love, onstage and off; and he enjoyed a twenty-year tenure as artistic director of The Australian Ballet, transforming it into one of the top flagship dance companies in the world.
Fifty years since he stepped into his first ballet class, McAllister reflects on his dance journey, his relationships, embracing his sexuality, and the combination of talent, timing and sheer perseverance that gave rise to his transformative career.
Includes 16 pages of colour photos from McAllister’s life and career.
David McAllister has always belonged onstage. As the middle child in a Catholic family who knew nothing about dance, he watched himself twirl in the reflective glass of the TV and dreamed about becoming the next Rudolf Nureyev. As a little boy taking ballet lessons, he was mercilessly bullied. As a young man joining the ranks of The Australian Ballet, he worried that he would never play the prince because he lacked the height and lean limbs of a classical dancer. Every time he heard ‘no’, he simply did what he loved – danced.
Sure enough, curtains rose for the unlikely prince: he represented Australia on the world stage; he became a principal dancer and performed his dream roles; he fell in love, onstage and off; and he enjoyed a twenty-year tenure as artistic director of The Australian Ballet, transforming it into one of the top flagship dance companies in the world.
Fifty years since he stepped into his first ballet class, McAllister reflects on his dance journey, his relationships, embracing his sexuality, and the combination of talent, timing and sheer perseverance that gave rise to his transformative career.
Includes 16 pages of colour photos from McAllister’s life and career.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2020
11 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 17, 2024
Imagine landing the job a lifetime. One that fills you with awe and passion and wonder. And imagine knowing that this was what you wanted to do from a very young age. Well, that’s David McAllister’s story. As a young lad in the sleepy suburbs of Perth, he was a precocious child, high energy, a bit highly strung. Yet he was also shy, and making friends at school was awkward. But he loved to perform! Even from a young age, dancing to his reflection of the TV screen when it was turned off, as it was the perfect mirror. It transported him to be somewhere else. A gathering one evening of the family around the TV set (remember the good old days when this used to happen?) was showing a performance of Rudolph Nureyev in Don Quixote. In a first, he brought the production to Australia. A young David was absolutely mesmerized. He knew this was to be his destiny.
”I turned to my parents once again as we watched his magnetic performance on the television and begged them: ‘Please! I want to learn ballet!’ “
This is such a gorgeous, joyous and truthful story of what it means to truly live and breath your Art. Being mocked and bullied at school for learning ballet, drove David to be even more determined to learn as much as he could, and be the best dancer he could. It built a strength and resilience in him he didn’t know he had.
”I’ll show them, I thought, one day I will be famous, and that will be my revenge. “
The rest, as they say, is history.
Moving to Melbourne as a very young and naive seventeen year old when he obtained a place in the Australian Ballet was only the beginning of his journey. This bio is refreshingly honest as he talks of his struggles with his sexuality, the homesickness and the absolute wonder of being immersed in the world of dance.
It was really exciting reading that he joined the Ballet school at the same time as Steven Heathcote and Paul Mercurio. Wow. That is some serious talent.
In fact, reading this is like a “who’s who” of so many wonderful performers who graced the stage over the years. It was like catching up with an old friend who you bump into accidentally, as I used to go to the ballet a lot. Right at the time David was performing, and I’m so fortunate to have seen him dance on stage many times (right place, right time). He was a sublime dancer. And it always struck me watching him onstage as being a very charming and decent bloke. And this book confirms it. He’s honest about his onstage partnerships and relationships, while remaining very classy.
This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in the Arts, particularly Ballet. As well as being equally fascinating to see how Australia has grown and changed, turning from something of a cultural backwater, to a place that now has some of the strongest and best artistic communities in the world.
The Acknowledgements section at the end of the book is particularly poignant as he mentions the many people who impacted on his life and journey from a fresh faced young dancer to the Artistic Director of the company for twenty years.
He sums up the importance of all forms of Art perfectly:
”It is what great art does - it makes us better people, and the world a better place. It helps us soar.”
”I turned to my parents once again as we watched his magnetic performance on the television and begged them: ‘Please! I want to learn ballet!’ “
This is such a gorgeous, joyous and truthful story of what it means to truly live and breath your Art. Being mocked and bullied at school for learning ballet, drove David to be even more determined to learn as much as he could, and be the best dancer he could. It built a strength and resilience in him he didn’t know he had.
”I’ll show them, I thought, one day I will be famous, and that will be my revenge. “
The rest, as they say, is history.
Moving to Melbourne as a very young and naive seventeen year old when he obtained a place in the Australian Ballet was only the beginning of his journey. This bio is refreshingly honest as he talks of his struggles with his sexuality, the homesickness and the absolute wonder of being immersed in the world of dance.
It was really exciting reading that he joined the Ballet school at the same time as Steven Heathcote and Paul Mercurio. Wow. That is some serious talent.
In fact, reading this is like a “who’s who” of so many wonderful performers who graced the stage over the years. It was like catching up with an old friend who you bump into accidentally, as I used to go to the ballet a lot. Right at the time David was performing, and I’m so fortunate to have seen him dance on stage many times (right place, right time). He was a sublime dancer. And it always struck me watching him onstage as being a very charming and decent bloke. And this book confirms it. He’s honest about his onstage partnerships and relationships, while remaining very classy.
This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in the Arts, particularly Ballet. As well as being equally fascinating to see how Australia has grown and changed, turning from something of a cultural backwater, to a place that now has some of the strongest and best artistic communities in the world.
The Acknowledgements section at the end of the book is particularly poignant as he mentions the many people who impacted on his life and journey from a fresh faced young dancer to the Artistic Director of the company for twenty years.
He sums up the importance of all forms of Art perfectly:
”It is what great art does - it makes us better people, and the world a better place. It helps us soar.”
May 29, 2022
A thoughtful and engaging autobiography that examines the creative arts and the ceaseless search for perfection in all its forms, ‘Soar’ manages a delicate balancing act for both dancer and non-dancer alike. Of especial interest is the candid and revealing progression of McAllister’s masterly transition from performer to Artistic Director of his own company, the Australian Ballet.
Warmth, generosity and humility abound in writing that is a work of art in itself.
Warmth, generosity and humility abound in writing that is a work of art in itself.
December 27, 2020
This is an autobiography of a lovely man. It's not great literature. It's not a profound story. But it is a delightful piece of story telling about following one's dream, of overcoming bullying, of finding love. It's a rather straightfoward narrative about Mr McAllister's life as one of Australia's best ballet dancers but I'm sure it will be inspirational for young dancers and for young LGBTQI people as well.
July 15, 2021
David McAllister was in his mid-forties when he came out, first to himself, then to his father. At the time he was known as one of Australia’s most accomplished ballet dancers and the artistic director of The Australian Ballet, living in a progressive city, in possibly one of the most gay-friendly professional environment there is. Unpacking this contradiction is at the heart of what makes Soar – A Life Freed By Dance so compelling.
It’s the story of a Perth catholic boy who discovers the wonders of ballet and is bullied for it; who grows up to be a magnificent performer in despite not having a traditional dancer’s body. McAllister climbed the ranks of the Australian Ballet to become one of its shining stars, touring the world and dancing with the great principals and choreographers of the late twentieth century. Eventually he would become the organization’s artistic director for another twenty years, stepping down in the middle of the Covid pandemic.
The writing is chronological, straightforward, unadorned. It’s an extraordinary life described as an ordinary one, more concerned with communicating the joy and value of ballet than with introspection or ego, a testament to discipline and determination in the pursuit of artistic excellence.
It’s fascinating to read the memoir of someone who lacks self-awareness or even insights into what makes others tick. McAllister is very honest about his constant surprise at the turn of events, his inability to predict the behaviours of those he knows best (including that of his very accepting father when he finally comes out), and his tendency to push challenging feelings aside for lengths of time – even if it means internalizing homophobia - to focus on his dancing.
Contrast that with National Service, which chronicles Richard Eyre’s decade at the head of London’s National Theatre, laden with insights and armed with the ambition to push the reader to think differently at every turn.
At the same time, the utter lack of cynicism is disarmingly refreshing. McAllister is an optimistic and joyful guide, sparking and satisfying the reader’s curiosity about Australian ballet with infectious enthusiasm that will leave you yearning for season tickets.
It’s the story of a Perth catholic boy who discovers the wonders of ballet and is bullied for it; who grows up to be a magnificent performer in despite not having a traditional dancer’s body. McAllister climbed the ranks of the Australian Ballet to become one of its shining stars, touring the world and dancing with the great principals and choreographers of the late twentieth century. Eventually he would become the organization’s artistic director for another twenty years, stepping down in the middle of the Covid pandemic.
The writing is chronological, straightforward, unadorned. It’s an extraordinary life described as an ordinary one, more concerned with communicating the joy and value of ballet than with introspection or ego, a testament to discipline and determination in the pursuit of artistic excellence.
It’s fascinating to read the memoir of someone who lacks self-awareness or even insights into what makes others tick. McAllister is very honest about his constant surprise at the turn of events, his inability to predict the behaviours of those he knows best (including that of his very accepting father when he finally comes out), and his tendency to push challenging feelings aside for lengths of time – even if it means internalizing homophobia - to focus on his dancing.
Contrast that with National Service, which chronicles Richard Eyre’s decade at the head of London’s National Theatre, laden with insights and armed with the ambition to push the reader to think differently at every turn.
At the same time, the utter lack of cynicism is disarmingly refreshing. McAllister is an optimistic and joyful guide, sparking and satisfying the reader’s curiosity about Australian ballet with infectious enthusiasm that will leave you yearning for season tickets.
May 26, 2021
David McAllister was artistic director of The Australian Ballet the entire time I have been a subscriber. I no doubt love ballet as much as I do because of his vision. Watching him elegantly sashay to his seat just as a performance was about to start a couple of rows in front of us was always a delight. Nijinski remains one of the greatest live performance experiences of my life. All of this to say I had to read McAllister’s memoir. His use of the words ‘supper’ and ‘lover’ delighted me as did his account of his dancing career. I was unaware for how long he grappled with his sexuality before coming out in his 40s. His father’s reaction left me weeping. A beautiful account of a creative life. I listened to the audio while on walks with Milo and read the book tucked up in bed. Not my usual way but it worked.
January 14, 2021
Loved this book. Listened as audio book. Beautifully and honestly presented. A life from a small boy who loved to dance and was teased mercilessly (he grew up in Perth,) who became a dancer with the Australian Ballet for 20 years then Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet for 20 years. So many life experiences! So many challenges! So much hard work! Such a wonderful life story!
December 29, 2024
This was a delightful autobiography from a man who has been an integral figure of the Australian Arts scene for a long time. I'm not the most involved and engaged ballet audience, but I enjoyed this exploration of what makes David McAllister, his passion and his vision tick.
3.5/5 (audiobook)
3.5/5 (audiobook)
May 9, 2021
Finished the book feeling so happy for that little boy in Perth living the dream and so much more
October 7, 2020
Loved it. A frank and interesting bio.
July 9, 2021
Billy Elliot is my all-time favourite movie. Reading David's memoir, felt like learning what happen to Billy after the movie ended. I enjoyed so much learning about David's career and life throughout the pages of this memoir. I didn't know much about David before reading this book and, unfortunately, I won't be able to see him dance but his book has made more interested in ballet.
May 2, 2023
Slow start, but once it got going I was hooked. I read this book in one go.
David McAllister had an incredible career and Amanda Dunn did a great job focusing it into a book.
I honestly wasn't familiar with Australian ballet at all and I wish there were more videos on YouTube, but it was a time before smart phones, so I understand.
I loved reliving some historic moments through the retelling of this life story. Even though I wasn't alive during the Cold War, I have a fascination with it, so the Russian ballet parts were very interesting to me.
The author mentions his mission to make the arts accessible, and this memoir accomplished that. Ballet is a world of elite athletes, but these dancers are humans after all who like junk food just like the rest of us.😃
David McAllister had an incredible career and Amanda Dunn did a great job focusing it into a book.
I honestly wasn't familiar with Australian ballet at all and I wish there were more videos on YouTube, but it was a time before smart phones, so I understand.
I loved reliving some historic moments through the retelling of this life story. Even though I wasn't alive during the Cold War, I have a fascination with it, so the Russian ballet parts were very interesting to me.
The author mentions his mission to make the arts accessible, and this memoir accomplished that. Ballet is a world of elite athletes, but these dancers are humans after all who like junk food just like the rest of us.😃
October 14, 2021
I wanted to like this so much more because I love the Australian Ballet Company, however, David’s language is dance so the writing leaves a lot to be desired.
January 6, 2021
Not the most exciting or profound autobiography, but an easy read. I wish David McAllister the best for his pursuits beyond artistic director.
October 11, 2021
An inspiring memoir showing how David rose above obstacles and succeeded due to his passion and determination.
When David was young, he was teased and bullied because of his love of dance; when he was accepted into the Royal Ballet School. he was concerned about his appearance - his nose was too big, his legs were too short. He was concerned that, because of this, he would not get to dance the principal roles he wanted. Yet despite this he was determined to continue doing what he loved - ballet. He achieved his dance dreams and much more.
McAllister’s triumphant story.’ – Benjamin Law
‘A ripping memoir.’ – Jane Turner
From the backblocks of Perth to international stardom, this is a story of courage to fight against the odds for your passion and succeed.
David McAllister has always belonged onstage. As the middle child in a Catholic family who knew nothing about dance, he watched himself twirl in the reflective glass of the TV and dreamed about becoming the next Rudolf Nureyev. As a little boy taking ballet lessons, he was mercilessly bullied. As a young man joining the ranks of The Australian Ballet, he worried that he would never play the prince because he lacked the height and lean limbs of a classical dancer. Every time he heard ‘no’, he simply did what he loved – danced.
Sure enough, curtains rose for the unlikely prince: he represented Australia on the world stage; he became a principal dancer and performed his dream roles; he fell in love, onstage and off; and he enjoyed a twenty-year tenure as artistic director of The Australian Ballet, transforming it into one of the top flagship dance companies in the world.
Fifty years since he stepped into his first ballet class, McAllister reflects on his dance journey, his relationships, embracing his sexuality, and the combination of talent, timing and sheer perseverance that gave rise to his transformative career.
When David was young, he was teased and bullied because of his love of dance; when he was accepted into the Royal Ballet School. he was concerned about his appearance - his nose was too big, his legs were too short. He was concerned that, because of this, he would not get to dance the principal roles he wanted. Yet despite this he was determined to continue doing what he loved - ballet. He achieved his dance dreams and much more.
McAllister’s triumphant story.’ – Benjamin Law
‘A ripping memoir.’ – Jane Turner
From the backblocks of Perth to international stardom, this is a story of courage to fight against the odds for your passion and succeed.
David McAllister has always belonged onstage. As the middle child in a Catholic family who knew nothing about dance, he watched himself twirl in the reflective glass of the TV and dreamed about becoming the next Rudolf Nureyev. As a little boy taking ballet lessons, he was mercilessly bullied. As a young man joining the ranks of The Australian Ballet, he worried that he would never play the prince because he lacked the height and lean limbs of a classical dancer. Every time he heard ‘no’, he simply did what he loved – danced.
Sure enough, curtains rose for the unlikely prince: he represented Australia on the world stage; he became a principal dancer and performed his dream roles; he fell in love, onstage and off; and he enjoyed a twenty-year tenure as artistic director of The Australian Ballet, transforming it into one of the top flagship dance companies in the world.
Fifty years since he stepped into his first ballet class, McAllister reflects on his dance journey, his relationships, embracing his sexuality, and the combination of talent, timing and sheer perseverance that gave rise to his transformative career.
April 30, 2021
I found this a fascinating biography, very open and honest about his relationships, and I just loved all the ballet details. Finished it just as I read in the paper he was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award
July 24, 2021
Interesting autobiography about life as a Dancer for the Australian National Ballet, just wish I knew more about Ballet in Australia before reading it as I didn't appreciate the talent of most of the people mentioned in the book.
October 29, 2020
I just got to peek behind the curtain of my childhood idol and I wasn't disappointed. Amazing story, amazing man.
November 5, 2020
Heartbreaking and honest yet many moments of laugh out loud.
The ex-ballerina in me wept many times as memories swept through.
The ex-ballerina in me wept many times as memories swept through.
January 4, 2021
Loved this book. Felt totally immersed in David's story even though my ballet knowledge is limited. A great Australian who has contributed a wonderful legacy.
January 15, 2022
Congratulations David on your phenomenal career and thank you for sharing
July 17, 2023
3.5 rounded down to 3
February 18, 2021
A joyful and warm read. I would definitely recommend this for fans of ballet, or for anyone who is looking for a memoir that is light yet not insubstantial.
January 15, 2021
Utterly enjoyable & easy read of an artist's artistry I've admired since I was a teenager.
Having met David several times when seeing AB perform around the country he is always approachable, humble & appreciative.
Having met David several times when seeing AB perform around the country he is always approachable, humble & appreciative.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews