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macaronoui's review
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.5
The book is on Alexei’s journey as a dancer as a young boy, to being one of the most celebrated choreographers at the moment.
The book is incredibly detailed, and Marina had obviously done a lot of research which feels very nice.
The books gets harder to read towards the end as there are so many details. There is also a fair amount of repetition, which is frustrating at times.
For people who don’t know a lot about the Ukraine, Russia, the former soviet Union, this book gives a very good historical overview.
I am a big fan of ballet, and think the author describes certain dance steps and movements very well. I do recommend looking at clips on youtube of the dances, as what she describes and what actually happened differed in my opinion. It’s very clear the author is a big fan of his work, painting him in a really great light. At times I wonder perhaps what the book would have been like with a little more nuance and impartiality.
Alexei is described as an “Alexander Hamilton”, in the frenetic way he keeps creating ballets. I doubt other choreographers will ever produce the same quality and quantity of his work. I’ve seen a few of his pieces danced and was curious about this book.
Fans of ballet (balletomanes) will enjoy it.
The book is mostly chronological, but sometimes the author springs back or forward in a very abrupt manor.
In the post me-too world, a lot of issues have come to light in the ballet world (not with Alexei himself, otherwise I would not have read this book). But it’s a little odd this book doesn’t touch on that. There are so many prima ballerinas, but unfortunately very few established female choreographers. It felt a bit weird that the choreographers he used stuff from, the artists he worked with, and the music were mostly men. He seems so whimsical and at times revoluntionary in his work, it seems like a missed opportunity.
The book is an interesting read, though a little too detailed and repetitive at times.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
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