Dancing on the Inside

Twelve-year-old Jenny Spark longs to be a ballet dancer. But in her first ever class, she suffers a crippling panic attack. She's terrified to practice in front of the other kids, and as for actually performing for an audience? Forget it.

Yet Jenny refuses to give up her dream, finding a way to observe ballet classes without participating, while practising in the safety of her home.

Then Jenny meets her polar opposite: Ara Reyes, a bold, spontaneous, and accident-prone girl who longs for the spotlight but is overlooked in favour of the school's star performer.

The girls' friendship blossoms as they help each other discover their real talents. Ara's dancing takes a leap forward, and Jenny reveals a hidden gift for choreography. With the support of the school's newest teacher, Jenny's original ballet might just make it on stage... but will she?

Glen C. Strathy authored the award-winning middle grade novel, Dancing on the Inside, and the young adult science fiction novel Beyond the Crystal Sky. He has co-written several nonfiction works, including a NYT bestselling business book. For over a decade he taught creative writing workshops at both St. Lawrence College and Queens U. Glen has been an actor, a copywriter, a dreamer, and a family man. His website, www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com, offers tools and tips for writers.