The Cranes Dance

Playful and smart, Meg Howrey's fresh voice unveils an eye-opening tale about the secretive and obsessive world of ballet.

"Meg Howrey deftly raises the velvet curtain on life 'backstage' at a top New York City ballet company, revealing the backstabbing and the grit beneath the tutus and the glamour in this hilarious tale of sibling rivalry, youthful ambition and dreams lost and found. Witty, sharp, and exhilarating as the Black Swan's solo or Vishneva's fouettés."

"From The Red Shoes to Black Swan, Hollywood has provided unforgettable portrayals of the ballet world's grisliness as well as its glamour. At last, The Cranes Dance brings this enchanting world alive in literature but with tremendous wit, flair, and psychological insight. With its universal themes of ambition and competition, sisterhood and sacrifice, it will appeal to bad dancers as well as balletomanes--an addictive, readable delight."

"Engaging...Revelations about family, talent, and what makes us special create a thought-provoking and entertaining read."

Howrey's taut character study offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional dance through the eyes of a complex, damaged, tenacious young dancer.