Ballroom!: Obsession and Passion inside the World of Competitive Dance - Softcover

Savoy, Sharon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 081306001X ISBN 13: 9780813060019

Publisher: University Press of Florida, 2014

Synopsis

“Gorgeous lines, exquisite beauty, and drama delight—and that is just in the dressing room. . . . Ballroom! takes the reader on an extraordinary journey moving with Sharon in and through her competitions and life as a performer. A great read and a glorious ride.”—Dance Track Magazine

 

“Offers an enlightening inside view of the politics, biases, stresses, and strategies that characterize the competitive ballroom dance scene. . . . Terps of all stripes will relate to Savoy’s struggles with partners, costumes, the development of choreographic ideas, musical choices, performance mishaps, and the extreme discipline required of professionals in all forms of dance.”—Backstage

 

“Originally trained as a professional ballet dancer under George Balanchine of the prestigious School of American Ballet, Savoy segued into the world of ballroom dancing after being sidelined with an ankle injury, and she never looked back.”—For the Love of Books

 

“An incredible story of what it takes to make it in our world of glitz and glamor. . . . Through reading this book, people will see dancers in a new light.”—Elena Grinenko, World and National Champion

 

“Reminds us all that passion and dedication will attract the circumstances and guidance necessary to see a heartfelt desire come true.”—Denis Tremblay, two-time winner, Blackpool Dance Festival, British Professional Rising Star Latin Championships

 

“A great story, told with emotion.”—John Kimmins, founder, National Dance Council of America

About this title

Book Description:

An all-access pass to a glamorous and fascinating world

"A great story, told with emotion."--John Kimmins, founder, National Dance Council of America

"An incredible story of what it takes to make it in our world of glitz and glamour. It makes me relive all of the emotions that I felt while competing. Through reading this book, people will see dancers in a new light." --Elena Grinenko, World & National Champion

"Sharon Savoy's exciting dance story is truly educational, informative, and inspirational. It reminds us all that passion and dedication will attract the circumstances and guidance necessary to see a heartfelt desire come true."--Denis Tremblay, two-time winner, Blackpool Dance Festival British Professional Rising Star Latin Championships
 Dreams are made and broken every year in the dazzling Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England. Fierce competition, brutal politics, and stunning artistry are all on the program at the world's most prestigious competition, known to ballroom dance enthusiasts simply as "Blackpool."

Sharon Savoy's lifelong love affair with dance manifested itself early on. At the tender age of 16 she left home to train under George Balanchine at the School of American Ballet in New York. An accomplished ballerina, her desire to dance more expressively and with a partner led her on the path that culminated on the competition ballroom circuit. There, her passion and artistry led her to become a four-time champion in exhibition style. But, as with all obsessions, her success came with a cost.

In this spellbinding book, Savoy offers a backstage pass to a world where rhinestones and high heels accompany explosive athleticism and staggering talent. With emotionally absorbing and energy-packed prose, she provides an insider's close-up view of all the players who compose this glamorous world that is part dance, part sport, and part art.

Sharon Savoy won her first World Exhibition title at Madison Square Garden in 1984 and twenty years later ended her competitive ballroom exhibition career by winning the 2004 World Exhibition Dance Championships. She is a four-time Blackpool Exhibition Champion, a three-time World Champion, and three-time Star Search winner. She has performed in film, at the Kennedy Center, during the Sydney Olympics, and around the world.

About the Author:

Sharon Savoy is a four-time Blackpool Exhibition Champion, a three-time World Champion, and three-time Star Search winner. She was recently named “World’s Best Female Dancer” at the tenth annual People’s Choice Hauding Awards. She has performed on film, at the Kennedy Center, and during the Sydney Olympics.

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of Florida
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 081306001X
• ISBN 13: 9780813060019
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 174