White Swan, Black Swan Stories
White Swan, Black Swan Stories by Adrienne Sharp, published by Random House in 2001, is a collection of short stories that delves into the intricate world of ballet. This first edition, comprising 224 pages, presents a series of narratives centered around dancers and choreographers who navigate the delicate balance between the discipline of their art and the chaos of their personal lives. The stories explore themes of infatuation, ambition, and the fleeting nature of beauty, drawing readers into the emotional complexities faced by iconic figures in the ballet world.
Readers will encounter a range of characters, from a famous choreographer captivated by a young dancer to a rising star entangled in a passionate affair. Each story captures the bittersweet essence of ballet, reflecting on the lives of legendary figures such as Balanchine, Fonteyn, and Nureyev. Sharp’s prose translates the elegance of ballet into vivid storytelling, revealing the underlying struggles and desires that accompany the pursuit of artistic excellence. This collection invites readers to experience the profound connections between art and life, offering a glimpse into the world of dance that is both rigorous and beautifully expressive.
Official synopsis Publisher
The world’s most famous choreographer becomes infatuated with a coltish young dancer who proves both siren and muse. A rising star plunges into an affair with a principal but finds that ecstasy on the stage can’t be surpassed in the bed. A dying legend reflects on the evanescent beauty of a life of gesture, lost to everything but memory.
Each bittersweet story plants the reader amid a cast of dancers and choreographers who struggle–valiantly, playfully, fiercely–to find in the rigorous discipline and animating beauty of ballet a counterbalance to the chaos of unscripted life. Many of the tales dare to imagine the inner lives of the century’s titans–Balanchine, Fonteyn and Nureyev–which rival in emotional complexity and pathos the classic dramas they enacted onstage: La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Swan Lake.
White Swan, Black Swan translates the pure and essential gestures of ballet into starkly elegant prose while showing the sweat and sex beneath the serene surface. Adrienne Sharp’s debut is a bravura performance.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “White Swan, Black Swan Stories” about?
Who is the author of “White Swan, Black Swan Stories”?
When was “White Swan, Black Swan Stories” published?
What is the ISBN for “White Swan, Black Swan Stories”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
