Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette

In this endearing debut memoir, Jones, the first Black woman to become a Radio City Rockette, chronicles the obstacles she faced—from racism to weigh-ins to complex choreography—and the thrills of performing with the popular dance troupe. As a biracial child growing up in 1970s New Jersey, Jones got her first hint that she could have a future onstage when she saw The Wiz on Broadway (she writes that it showed “this little Black girl that her dreams of being part of a live Broadway cast... could indeed come true”). Though Jones’s parents harbored doubts about her decision to pursue the arts, Jones booked a spot on the Rockettes at an open call when she was 20 years old. In 1988, she made her debut with the troupe on live TV during the Super Bowl halftime show. As Jones pulls the curtain back on the highs and lows of life as a professional dancer, she also covers her bout with cancer, poignantly shedding light on the difficulty and importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. While the prose is fairly unremarkable, Jones’s story is inspiring enough to appeal to performers and fans alike. Agent: Johanna Castillo, Writers House. (Feb.)