For the love of dance

Published to celebrate Dame Beryl’s 90th birthday, this is the only autobiography from this famous classical ballerina, and is a must-read for dance and ballet lovers. Dame Beryl’s life is defined by her love of dance. Her life and career spanned the period that saw the flowering of British ballet. Knowing and working with virtually everyone in the dance world, she reveals fascinating insights into the people, characters and institutions that made up world dance in the 20th century. Grey began her dancing career with the Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1941 at the unprecedented early age of 14. Her natural virtuosity saw her quickly promoted to prima ballerina, dancing her first Giselle at 17, and Princess Aurora at 19. Dame Beryl became the first English dancer to appear as a ballerina at the Bolshoi and the Kirov, as well as with the Peking Ballet. Throughout WWII, Dame Beryl continued to perform throughout the country, despite the dangers. This autobiography provides a fascinating and personal insight into an extraordinary woman, her life and career.