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As a young ballerina I will never forget what it felt like to put on the outfit and shoes and how inspired I felt when I performed. Not only that, but growing up in Puerto Rico I was also brought to dance from my own culture like salsa and merengue. That music and stepping to the beat became a fun pastime at high school dances and weddings galore.
I like books about different types of dance and performance and the relationships and passion that goes with it. With that in mind, I wanted to share three young adult dance-inspired novels that were either recently published or about to be released and that you will really enjoy.
So get to the beat and take a moment to browse these books. Perhaps after these fun readings you will be inspired to dance in your own bedroom.
Instructions for dancing by Nicola Yoon
I was lucky enough to read a digital galley of this novel and it’s adorable!
The book Evie Thomas, who has given up love and romance, will follow on June 1st. Then something strange happens where she witnesses a couple kiss and is overwhelmed by a vision of how their romance began and how it will end. This makes them realize that love only leads to disappointment and a broken heart.
When Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she is in the La Brea dance studio studying waltz, foxtrot, and tango with a boy named X. This boy is everything Evie is not because he seeks adventure, a deep passion for life and is daring. After admitting that his life’s path has been saying yes to everything and going with the flow, he decides to take part in a ballroom dancing contest with a girl he just met … Evie herself.
Falling in love with X is definitely not what Evie had in mind, especially after her vision of the end of love. But will she be able to withstand him?
This cute novel is a perfect contemporary full of romance and magical sparks that will make you happy while reading it.
K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee
Who doesn’t love the sassy world of K-pop filled with edgy dance moves and synchronized flawless singing? If you love this world then this book, published in 2020, is for you.
Candace Park knows a lot about how to play a role. For most of her life, she played the role of the calm and perfect Korean girl, strictly participated in all AP courses, and played a classical instrument. Still, she’s hiding some dreams, like her obsession with SLK, K-Pop’s top boy band, and even some desires to be a star one day. She can sing and perform, but she has no idea how to become one of those K-pop superstars.
Candace secretly takes part in a global audition for the SLK music label and takes a place in her trainee program. Her strict parents need persuasion to make her follow this dream, but then she realizes what she signed up for. Under the close supervision of her instructors at the label’s Seoul headquarters, Candace must perfect her dancing and performing skills, speak fluent Korean, and master the complex personalities of her fellow interns while following the strict rules of the industry, rule number one includes “no dating”. This becomes impossible once she meets a dreamy young trainee, which could create a scandal in the K-pop world as she is set to debut as part of a group.
If she doesn’t have what it takes after her family sacrifices everything, what’s next? And will she give up on love? This book explores what happens when you follow your dreams and what can come next when you really get to know yourself.
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This train is held by Ismée Williams
A dancer and a baseball player battle fate and their own beliefs in this super cute book published in 2020.
Alex is a great baseball player. His dad pushes him to become a professional, but Alex might want to be a poet, something Dad doesn’t seem to understand.
Isa is a dancer who dreams of becoming a professional if only her Havana-born mother wouldn’t completely oppose it. Her mother is also completely against her daughter, who falls in love with a Latino. But behind the dance that sometimes leads to her escape, Isa’s privileged private school life is currently falling apart. Her father lost his job and her older brother is struggling with mental illness. These are things that she keeps strictly to herself.
Then suddenly fate and the New York subway bring Alex and Isa together. What will come of their meeting? Should it be? Could they inspire each other at a time when they need it most?
This is lovely read full of enchanting and realistic moments that you should absolutely pick up on as soon as possible.
What other books on dance did you enjoy? Find even more with these posts:
