Swan Dive: The Making of a Rogue Ballerina

Ballet lessons were in/out my life from age 4. Unfortunately, my body did not comply with my desire to dance. Reading about all Paz put herself through for years was a look back on memories. This book is so well written and footnoted! The only thing I didn't like, was that it had to end. That, my friends, is the best honor a book and/or author could receive. Brava Paz! And thank you for sharing!

I loved this book so much I couldn’t put it down. Why? Because of Gina! Georgina Pazcoguin takes us as friends along with her through all her crazy escapades and those of her fellow company members, through serious and disturbing events as well as humorous ones - I found myself laughing out loud many times as well as cringing for what she and the other dancers endured at the hands of megalomaniacal ballet directors and administrators, including sexual harassment to the max. I was not shocked by these revelations. Just saddened. As a professional musician, I have to state that it is not much different in the world of classical music, where the word of one person can affect the trajectory of a person’s life, and there is a “shhh don’t tell attitude”that makes it even harder to bear. Maybe the arts somehow warp some people’s’ perspectives. But, it seems to construct a fertile breeding ground for petty tyrants (as well as willing slaves). Through it all, however, shine Gina’s fire cracker persona, bravery, sharp wit, and astute ability to stand back to assess and observe, probably more that she realizes, as well as her stark honesty, which manages to remain somehow charitable. We, the readers, are the beneficiaries of these special abilities and by the end of the book I felt I was leaving one of my best friends. I didn’t want it to end! This book is a tour de force and only goes to demonstrate the resilience and sheer strength of will and life force in Georgina Pazcoguin. I envy anyone who is just about to read this book for the first time. Bon voyage!

I really wanted this to be the raw inside view to the world of ballet and the hype led me to believe that I'd be getting just that. Unfortunately, not a lot in here really surprised me. I also found the storyline to jump around which made it, at times, difficult to discern if the story being told in that chapter had come before or after the last chapter. I gave this 3 stars as there are some very insightful parts and some of the "behind the scenes" in terms of the dressing room antics was amusing but I found myself having to push through this one. I don't discount any of her experiences and I can't imagine the pressure endured both physically and mentally. I just had hoped this one was going to be something more.

The author, a mid-tier dancer with the world renowned New York City Ballet describes the highs and lows of her twenty years with the company, beginning as a high school apprentice. The book has a lot of dishy intrigue and hijinks about the wild off-hours lives of young dancers. But a closer look suggests that the hijinks are more about letting off steam and a very occasional respite from the pitiless, cutthroat world of top-tier ballet dancers.Under the froth, Pazcoguin explains what would normally be a hugely demanding enterprise of directing a group of 90 dancers is made exponentially worse because the few key employees who both artistically train the dancers and manage the company are monsters. Sexist, racist, bullying, constant fat shaming. And the worst is Paz’s boss from hell, Peter Martins, the menacing Artistic Director, whose opinion was final. (Towards the end of the book and IRL, Martins retired under a cloud for allegations of violence against young dancers; the company is now under new, more inclusive management).Much of Pazcoguin‘s diary chronicles her struggles with Martin’s bullying mental and bordering on physical, the racism of casting people of color like her in demeaning or supporting roles and excluding them from soloing, and thus advancing, the predations of gropey male dancers, the relentless and pervasive fat shaming and head games by the boss.But the diary is also more than a performing art workplace reform manifesto. Despite the many “swan dives” and pratfalls described by this humorous and self-effacing artist, Pazcoguin shares the awe that all we City Ballet lovers have that despite the warts and problems in the wings and rehearsal studios, it is a miracle that hugely dedicated and exquisitely trained dancers can perform the sublime dances of Balanchine exactly as he intended, and that anyone on stage who can participate in this joy of dancing at this superhuman level is a lucky person indeed.Despite the surface froth and gossipy tone, Pazcoguin does a fine job in giving the reader a behind the scenes deconstruction of an exceedingly demanding workplace and profession,mexplains how it all works, and strongly suggests how it could work better to treat its dancers more humanely. (Spoiler: More like Broadway musicals).

Gets you very involved right away. Very descriptive.

When I lived in New York in the 70s and early 80s I was a ballet fan and the New York City Ballet w as my favorite. In those days v you could get tickets for $5 and I went often. Peter margins was a fabulous dancer and Balanchine occasionally took curtain calls. I haven't lived in New York Gor a long time but still love ballet. This book was an intimate glimpse into the company and the reality of a dancers life. Thank you for writing this.

I'm so glad this popped up as a Kindle Daily Deal, otherwise it would not have been on my radar. As a former professional ballerina myself, I bought it immediately and was struck several times in the reading at how, despite being a decade younger, so little had changed in the ballet world.Like this book's author, I was one of fewer than a handful of non-White students at the performing arts boarding school I attended for 5 years. While I studied in England and not the US, much was the same - racism, double standards, the toxic culture of cutthroat competition, eating disorders. There was no mental health awareness in the early to mid-90s. Dance students (aged 14-16) who tapped out through substance abuse, attempted suicide or decided on academic or other tracks were simply deemed "not to have what it takes".Like Georgina, my race and looks counted against me. I was told by two of the top senior ballet schools in England to "audition for companies in Asia or outside the UK, because artistic directors want corps dancers to look alike - tall and blonde." I am 5'2" and Asian, not even biracial. I was not rejected due to lack of technique. Accepting that this was the only way things were back then, I dutifully flew back home and danced professionally in a country where I looked like all the other dancers.Some reviewers commented that this book was "not what they expected". But to me, it was a welcome shout of TRUTH! I'm glad for the author, that her dance career spans a time when positive change can and hopefully is happening so that future dancers find their feet in a dance industry where there is actually professional enlightenment.

I couldn't read beyond the first chapter, a list of moans about everything. Depressing. Keep a journal of talk to your friends don't burden the reader with it.

I found reading Swan Dive, I couldn’t read fast enough! Except that I wanted to savor the richness of the words and sentences! It was an eye opening journey for me in that I realized how much “white privilege” I still have! I am older out and proud man never one to follow the easy path to forge through life! Unusual childhood memories of going to the Vietnam War protests of the 60’s and my family home was in fact part of the draft evaders safe route to Canada. Never one to follow the prescribed book! Yet the authoress Gina helped me, through her journey, open my eyes to my journey! Plus as a dancer unfortunately arriving to late at the table, I related to her prose, her passion, her thoughts and compassion for others through the rarified world of ballet, Especially at her high level of NYCB! Bravo Gina!

Originalmente lo compré para regalo, pero empecé a leerlo y me lo quedé. Y soy mas interesado en la ciencia ficción que el ballet, así de bueno el libro.

Very well written and humorous.