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Forever on Pointe
Dancing was her life. Until a paralyzing virus threatened to shatter her dreams.
Forever on Pointe: A True Story is the fascinating account of one woman’s ever-evolving journey from the intense world of professional ballet to the bloody streets of the Hungarian Revolution to the glittering nightclubs of Montreal. In this intimate and revealing memoir, Agota Gabor shares how grit and determination allowed her to attain her wildest dreams.
As a young girl, Agota intends to become a professional ballerina in Budapest, but her dream is shattered when she contracts polio. Through gruesome therapy and iron willpower, she learns to dance again, making a living as a dancer in Canada after her home country erupts in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Agota forges ahead to achieve a prosperous and dynamic life, working as a chorus girl in Montreal casinos and nightclubs. But she wants more than just the glitz and glam. After going back to school, Agota becomes a television journalist and works with her foreign-correspondent husband as they live the expat life, traveling across the world from Hong Kong to Jakarta to London. Agota’s roller-coaster life continues as a mother and a businesswoman, as she runs a successful communications firm and makes a killing in real estate.
Forever on Pointe: A True Story is the fascinating account of one woman’s ever-evolving journey from the intense world of professional ballet to the bloody streets of the Hungarian Revolution to the glittering nightclubs of Montreal. In this intimate and revealing memoir, Agota Gabor shares how grit and determination allowed her to attain her wildest dreams.
As a young girl, Agota intends to become a professional ballerina in Budapest, but her dream is shattered when she contracts polio. Through gruesome therapy and iron willpower, she learns to dance again, making a living as a dancer in Canada after her home country erupts in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Agota forges ahead to achieve a prosperous and dynamic life, working as a chorus girl in Montreal casinos and nightclubs. But she wants more than just the glitz and glam. After going back to school, Agota becomes a television journalist and works with her foreign-correspondent husband as they live the expat life, traveling across the world from Hong Kong to Jakarta to London. Agota’s roller-coaster life continues as a mother and a businesswoman, as she runs a successful communications firm and makes a killing in real estate.
241 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2022
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About the author
Agota Gabor
4 books4 followersAfter a 35-year career in Communications, I decided to put my experiences into a handbook which I’m proud to introduce: ‘Public Speaking – Presentations - Media Interviews – Helping you Succeed’, launching this April.
I spent my childhood as a ballet rat at the Budapest Opera House, came to Canada with my mother after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. In 1969 I got my Journalism degree from Ryerson and went to work for CBC Television. Starting as a script assistant, then researcher, then story editor and finally producer. My first job in PR was in Hong Kong, at the beautiful Mandarin Hotel, doing publicity for visiting Heads of State and celebrities.
Back in Toronto I started the Gabor Group. In 1981, it was the first Canadian company to offer Media Training and Presentation Skills as its key service. During the last 35 years, the Gabor Group grew to become a full service communications company. I enjoy my work and feel fortunate that I get paid for doing what I like to do.
I spent my childhood as a ballet rat at the Budapest Opera House, came to Canada with my mother after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. In 1969 I got my Journalism degree from Ryerson and went to work for CBC Television. Starting as a script assistant, then researcher, then story editor and finally producer. My first job in PR was in Hong Kong, at the beautiful Mandarin Hotel, doing publicity for visiting Heads of State and celebrities.
Back in Toronto I started the Gabor Group. In 1981, it was the first Canadian company to offer Media Training and Presentation Skills as its key service. During the last 35 years, the Gabor Group grew to become a full service communications company. I enjoy my work and feel fortunate that I get paid for doing what I like to do.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 28, 2022
Thank you, author and Girl Friday Productions, for the advance reading copy.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir during which I felt like I was reading a really awesome historical fiction. It would be wrong of me to say this but I really don't know how to express my feelings as exactly as how I felt.
I adore the real black and white pictures in between the chapters. The ballet classes and the experience seem surreal.
My heart got broken when I kept on reading. You will know why. For an aspiring ballet dancer the life she had to struggle with given the inevitable condition she was in. But did she give up?
Yes, a very inspirational read. Go for it.
We are really grateful that polio is almost eliminated now.
A much insightful read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir during which I felt like I was reading a really awesome historical fiction. It would be wrong of me to say this but I really don't know how to express my feelings as exactly as how I felt.
I adore the real black and white pictures in between the chapters. The ballet classes and the experience seem surreal.
My heart got broken when I kept on reading. You will know why. For an aspiring ballet dancer the life she had to struggle with given the inevitable condition she was in. But did she give up?
Yes, a very inspirational read. Go for it.
We are really grateful that polio is almost eliminated now.
A much insightful read.
March 19, 2022
I really enjoyed the first few chapters of this book, but then felt less and less interested as it went on unfortunately. I went into the story assuming from the title that the author was a career ballerina, and the first few chapters go into depth about the authors time dancing for the Hungarian ballet and opera. The chapters about polio, WWII and the revolution in Hungary were also fairly interesting, but once she immigrated to Canada and became part of the CBC I started to lose interest. I think I just kept waiting for ballet to come back to the prominence of the story, and while dance definitely does continue to be part of her life and ballet is unrealistic with age and the life long effects of polio, it just wasn’t what I thought the book would be about and it wasn’t really that interesting to me.
If you enjoy learning about Hungary, as well as Canada’s celebrity scene in the 1960s or just want to read about an interesting member of Canada’s entertainment and media scene during that time period you might love this book. It is well written, has several photos and shares tales from all over the world as she travelled with different productions.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
If you enjoy learning about Hungary, as well as Canada’s celebrity scene in the 1960s or just want to read about an interesting member of Canada’s entertainment and media scene during that time period you might love this book. It is well written, has several photos and shares tales from all over the world as she travelled with different productions.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 18, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir. I found the author’s tenacity in the face of so much adversity really inspiring. To live and breathe dance, only to have it torn away by polio, should be the end, yet for her, it was only the beginning. A great read that didn’t last long on my nightside table. Highly recommend.
April 22, 2022
An amazing life by an engaging writer. Agota’s journey is an inspiration to over come barriers and find joy. You will love her story.
April 22, 2022
Such a great story and well written. I don’t think anyone in my generation has had as interesting a life as Agi. This story is well told and should be shared.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews