Dances

A Novel

By: Nicole Cuffy

Narrated by: Samya De Meo

A ballerina at the height of her powers becomes consumed with finding her missing brother in this “striking debut” (Oprah Daily).

“A compelling novel about the spiritual and bodily costs of the dogged pursuit of art.”—Raven Leilani, author of Luster

LONGLISTED FOR THE CAROL SHIELDS PRIZE FOR FICTION • LONGLISTED FOR THE PEN/HEMINGWAY AWARD

At twenty-two years old, Cece Cordell reaches the pinnacle of her career as a ballet dancer when she’s promoted to principal at the New York City Ballet. She’s instantly catapulted into celebrity, heralded for her “inspirational” role as the first Black ballerina in the famed company’s history. Even as she celebrates the achievement of a lifelong dream, Cece remains haunted by the feeling that she doesn’t belong. As she waits for some feeling of rightness that doesn’t arrive, she begins to unravel the loose threads of her past—an absent father, a pragmatic mother who dismisses Cece’s ambitions, and a missing older brother who stoked her childhood love of ballet but disappeared to deal with his own demons.

Soon after her promotion, Cece is faced with a choice that has the potential to derail her career and shatter the life she’s cultivated for herself, sending her on a pilgrimage to both find her brother and reclaim the parts of herself lost in the grinding machinery of the traditional ballet world.

Written with spellbinding beauty and ballet’s precise structure, Dances centers around women, art, and power, and how we come to define freedom for ourselves.

The first black ballerina at NYCB! 🤩

While listening to the Therapy For Black Girls podcast, the author Nicole Cuffy was interviewed and gave an intriguing synopsis of her new novel “Dances”. I just recently purchased on Audible & could not put it down! Celine (CeCe) walks us through her childhood into adulthood as life as a black ballerina her passion to be the best. 10/10 it’s so encouraging to hear CeCe’s story and to be reminded that black women can do anything!

Great ballet book good story

I enjoyed this probably even more so as a Black dancer who did ballet. There were times when the commentary on race and dance and the detailed research the author did overwhelmed the writing a bit…a little heavy handed. But the character work was more subtle. The dance sequences went on a bit long at points but overall they were so well done. I felt like I could see it. This author could be a choreographer. It was so detailed and felt real. I didn’t love the way the narrator did the protagonists voice and there were moments of her insecurity and self deprecation in the white ballet world that I found uncomfortable (like when she said her lips were bulbous…) but I understand that she needed to go through an internal journey as well as an external one. There was enough challenge and struggle to create tension while also having the triumph and aspirational wish fulfillment that I want from a ballet-themed book. A satisfying end while leaving open the possibility of sequels. Really good.

Beautiful story!!

Devoured it from start to finish immediately after downloading! Power went out so I had to, but I didn’t mind! A few of the ballet words were said a little differently than I was used to hearing them, but the story was so perfect I didn’t need the performance to do any work.

Heart broke multiple times, but I will read again. Brava!!!

A Universal Adoration..

Although I have no formal Ballet 🩰knowledge, technical skills and or training, however I recognize the beauty in this presentation which transported me into CeCe’s exhilarating New York Lincoln Theatre principal performance‼️”Dances: a Novel” transcends ignorance, bias & melanin. Nevertheless, my appreciation & adoration of this artistic form is universally mesmerized 🥰💐‼️👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽 Bravo Ms. Cuffy💐‼️