Raising the Barre

Kessler, an author and journalist, was enjoying a very active midlife both professionally and personally when she decided to take up ballet again. This thoughtful shake-up of her autopilot existence brought about a new attitude toward accepting one’s flaws while embracing fear and change. As a girl she fell in love with The Nutcracker. She abandoned dance lessons after overhearing her famous teacher, Andre Elevsky (a former principal with Balanchine’s New York City Ballet), tell her mother that Kessler’s body was “all wrong,” but her passion for the show didn’t fade, and she went on to see it performed dozens of times. When her husband takes a solo business trip to Paris, she seizes the chance to do something for herself and goes on a multicity tour to immerse herself in Nutcrackerland and watch the productions each company offers. Then, following a voice that tells her to be bold, she vows to dance it, this time with her reputable hometown dance group, the Eugene Ballet Company. Giving herself six months to get in dancing shape before the start of the company’s new season, the very fit Kessler takes up yoga, Pilates, boxing, and Gyrotonics, where she is often twice the age of her classmates. As she pushes her exhausted body further from its comfort zone and closer to opening night, she inspires readers as she realizes that “you can’t feel the thrill unless you take the risk.” (Nov.)