So You Want To Be A Ballet Dancer (So You Want To Be A...)
About
WINNER of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award
So You Want To Be A Ballet Dancer takes young readers ages 10–14 inside one of the most disciplined and most beautiful careers in the performing arts — not the storybook version, but the real one. The years of barre work, conditioning, and artistic development that happen long before a dancer steps onto a stage that matters. The specific discipline of training a body to move with a precision and grace that looks natural only because the work behind it is invisible — building strength in the muscles that never show, flexibility in the joints that must never fail, and artistry in the phrasing that turns technique into something an audience feels rather than simply sees. The team of directors, choreographers, répétiteurs, physical therapists, and fellow dancers working in careful coordination so that individual bodies, moving together in space, become a single living expression of music and story. The performance that flows perfectly — and the one that demands you find a reserve you didn’t know you were carrying.
This is a book about what ballet dancers actually do: the technical foundations they build through years of training so rigorous that correct alignment and placement become the body’s natural resting state, the musicality they develop by learning to hear not just the notes but the architecture of the score they inhabit, the physical conditioning they pursue to build the strength, flexibility, and stamina the art form demands across a career that begins earlier and asks more than almost any other, and the mental fortitude they cultivate to perform with full artistic presence when the lights are on, the house is full, and every hour they have ever spent in a studio comes down to what they do right now. It’s also a book about what the career costs, what it demands, and why the dancers who reach the stage say that the early mornings and the aching feet and the years of invisible progress are not the price of the dream — they are part of it.
Inside, young readers will discover:
- What a real ballet dancer’s training and professional life actually looks like — from first classes and pre-professional programs to company auditions, corps work, and principal roles
- The anatomy and sports science behind elite ballet performance — turnout, pointe work, strength and conditioning, injury prevention, and what separates a technically correct dancer from a truly compelling one
- The mental demands of performing at the highest level — and how dancers develop the discipline, artistry, and psychological resilience the work requires
- The history of ballet and the legendary dancers and choreographers whose vision transformed a Renaissance court entertainment into one of the world’s most demanding and enduring art forms
- What young people can do right now to discover if this might be their calling
Honest, specific, and genuinely illuminating, So You Want To Be A Ballet Dancer doesn’t talk down to young readers — it brings them all the way in. Because the child who wants to know what this work is really like deserves a real answer.
For readers who feel the pull toward a career that rewards beauty and discipline in equal measure. For the kid who watches the stage and doesn’t just see the performance but wonders what it took to get there.
The barre is waiting. The music is about to begin. And somewhere, right now, the dancer who will make an audience hold its breath is in a studio, doing it again, doing it better, doing it one more time. Maybe that dancer is you.
Ages 10-14 · Nonfiction · Careers & Professions · Illustrated
Praise for this book
"Linda Soules’s So You Want to Be a Ballet Dancer introduces young readers to the demanding and artistic world of ballet. The book explains that ballet is far more than graceful performances onstage. It is a discipline built on years of physical training, repetition, precision, and emotional expression. Early chapters describe the foundations of ballet, including the French vocabulary dancers must learn, movements such as pliés and pirouettes, and the intense rehearsal process required to perfect choreography. Soules carefully explains the tools dancers rely on, including pointe shoes, rosin, mirrors, and the dancer’s own body, emphasizing how much strength and endurance ballet requires. Later sections focus on the rewards and challenges of the profession, discussing opening-night excitement alongside injuries, pressure, and the short length of many performing careers. The book also highlights inclusivity and evolving traditions in ballet, featuring dancers from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Linda Soules's writing balances information with engaging language designed to inspire curiosity. The pacing moves steadily through short thematic sections, making the book easy to follow while still covering a wide range of topics, from anatomy and performance schedules to musicality and stagecraft. Soules uses descriptive imagery and direct second-person narration to draw readers into the experience. The recurring focus on movement, sound, and physical sensation gives the writing energy. Readers interested in dance, theater, music, or athletic performance will enjoy how the book explains difficult concepts clearly and engagingly. One of the strongest elements of the book is its honesty about the demands of the profession while still maintaining an encouraging tone. So You Want to Be a Ballet Dancer combines education, inspiration, and artistic appreciation in a way that encourages readers to see ballet not simply as performance, but as a language spoken through movement."
"I found Linda Soules’s So You Want To Be A Ballet Dancer to be a thoughtful and refreshingly honest introduction to the world children step into each time they come to ballet class. This illustrated guide doesn’t present ballet as a simple dream of tutus, applause, and effortless grace. Instead, it begins where real training begins: at the barre, with repetition, discipline, alignment, and patience. For young readers ages 10 to 14, Soules explains ballet in a way that is clear and inviting without hiding how demanding the art form truly is.
What impressed me most was the book’s respect for the dancer’s body. Soules explains concepts such as turnout, pointe work, flexibility, strength, stamina, and injury prevention with enough detail to help children understand that ballet dancers are artists and athletes. I especially appreciated the attention given to tools of the trade, from pointe shoes and rosin to mirrors and the dancer’s own muscles. Young dancers often see the finished product on stage, but this book helps them understand the years of conditioning, correction, and quiet effort behind every polished performance.
The book also captures something ballet teachers teach in every class: technique alone is not enough. Soules explores musicality, emotional expression, stage presence, and the mental resilience needed to perform under pressure. She also introduces readers to the many people who make ballet possible, including choreographers, directors, physical therapists, and fellow dancers. The sections on ballet history, from the court of Louis XIV to modern stages around the world, help students see that each plié and pirouette belongs to a much larger artistic tradition that continues to evolve.
So You Want To Be A Ballet Dancer is an excellent starter guide for children who are curious about ballet, whether they are brand-new beginners or already dreaming of performing in productions like The Nutcracker. Soules’s tone is encouraging but realistic, which is exactly what young dancers need. She shows that ballet welcomes dedication, curiosity, and artistry, while also making clear that it requires hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. I would gladly recommend this book to ballet students and their families because it gives children a fuller understanding of ballet as a language of movement, discipline, beauty, and storytelling."
"Ballet can look effortless, but Linda Soules’s So You Want To Be A Ballet Dancer makes it clear that grace is built from strength, patience, and daily practice. It is an inviting, reality-based introduction that respects young readers and gives parents a smart framework for support.
Written for ages 10–12, the book speaks directly to young readers without talking down to them. It explains what dancers actually do, where they work, what pointe shoes are for, and how a day in a company is structured, using concrete details that make the commitment feel understandable. The history and global context are thoughtfully chosen, and the sections on injuries, fairness, and changing expectations are handled with clarity that families can discuss. For parents, the practical 'prepare right now' ideas stand out, because they encourage consistency and safe habits rather than quick results.
The writing style is clean, energetic, and well paced, with short sections that make it easy to read in one sitting or dip into over time. In the spirit of the So You Want To Be series, it meets kids at eye level and gives parents enough substance to talk about after the last page. Some aspiring dancers may wish for more detailed coverage of ballet technique and training. The tone balances inspiration with realism, and the best lines invite effort without glorifying pain or perfection.
For families, this is a smart guide to read alongside a child who loves music and movement. It helps kids feel capable, and it helps parents encourage practice, patience, and safe effort without pressure. It closed with clear talking points for supportive, realistic goal-setting at home."
"This entire series of books is awesome! I love how the author really explains what it is like to be in the specific profession. They give detailed information that is specific, yet not overly complicated for young minds. Great read."
"This book is a treasure when learning about the basics, techniques, and advances of ballet! Page by page, your child is guided into the world of ballet and dance, and gives them knowledge, strength, and skill to begin and advance into a great dancer! It is a must-have for those looking to develop their passion for dance!"
"If your child dreams of a world of dancing, this book gives them a realistic overview of what it takes to thrive in this profession. I think everyone who seriously wants to dance should read this book...Highly recommend this to all. Interesting read."
"So You Want to Be a Ballet Dancer is an impressively researched and engaging book that goes far beyond the basics, offering young readers a deep understanding of the discipline, history, physical demands, and artistry of ballet. I especially appreciated how the author highlights the evolution of ballet, discussing how the field is becoming more inclusive and welcoming to dancers of different body types, backgrounds, and abilities. The sections featuring trailblazing dancers such as Misty Copeland and Maria Tallchief provide meaningful examples of how diversity has helped shape the future of the art form. This is an outstanding resource for young readers who are interested in pursuing a career in ballet."
"These books are truly sooo good. If this is your first from this author, I highly recommend looking for more. Linda Soules does great work with these career children's books. This one describes what it's like to be a ballet dancer is such a wonderful way...Highly recommend for anyone who has a child who wants to be a ballet dancer."