This novel is really about the Parisian Opera Ballet, rather than the life of Degas. Alexandrie is born into a poor farming family, and sees the ballet as her only escape. If only she can become a professional prima ballerina, then she'll be able to support herself and her debt-ridden family. However, when she arrives in Paris, Alexandrie learns the dark truth about the backstage life of a Parisian ballerina, and she works to forge a new road for herself. Alexandre is a modern woman stuck in a world that has yet to catch up. She is a dedicated worker, and while other hopeful ballerinas giggle and enjoy their childhoods, Alexandrie must clean the ballet studio to pay for her lessons, and weed her tutor's garden. Her hard work pays off and she makes it to the ballet, only to find spiteful women who sell their bodies, and the disrespectful men who treat them as property. Alexandrie is determined not to prostitute herself, nor become a mistress to a married man in exchange for stability. She yearns to forge a new way. That is when she meets Edgar Degas, and begins to model and fall in love with him. Will Degas return her affection? Will she become Julien's mistreated mistress? Will she be rented out to patrons after performances? While I wanted very much to read more about Degas and his life, this book won me over nonetheless. I think every woman can see herself in Alexandrie. She's strong and hard-working. She's determined not to compromise her dreams. She wants a better life for herself. She wants more equality than her world is ready to give her. She's in love. She must often say what is diplomatic, rather than what she really thinks. She has a mother for whom nothing is ever good enough. I love Alexandrie and this novel. I only wish Degas was a larger character. It would be interesting if the author had alternated the chapters' narrator, from Alexandrie to Edgar. I enjoyed this book, especially since I once studied ballet and also because of the scenes of Paris.While I didn't learn as much as I wanted about Degas I did get an impression of the time period. Certainly, I didn't remember very much about the French civil war or the Franco-Prussian War and gained a little more understanding of the 1860's time period of the book. Hope to see more from this author.
What do You think about Bailando Para Degas (2009)?
3.75 stars. It's definitely more than "I like it" but not up to "I like it very much."
—orescb
Really enjoyed the story, couldn't put it down!
—Sugoi12344321
