Author

Beyond the Dance: A Ballerina’s Life

book_coverAn elegant, expressive dancer, Chan Hon Goh C.M. is one of the ballet world’s great stars. She is a brilliant technician possessing a delicate beauty and radiant stage presence. Born in Beijing to dancer parents, she wrote Beyond the Dance to encourage young people to pursue their dreams and to believe in themselves.

Published and released in 2002 by Tundra Books, Beyond the Dance: A Ballerina’s Life describes the challenges and obstacles of an immigrant family and a young girl’s dream to pursue her love of dance. Ms. Goh tells the story of their flight to Canada from an oppressive regime that thwarted her father’s career, her rigorous training, and her battle to achieve acceptance as the first Chinese-born prima ballerina in the history of the National Ballet of Canada. The story illustrates how Ms. Goh blossomed as an artist and how through her life experiences, she discovered that dance was not just about steps-but so much more. She felt writing this book would be a wonderful way to reach out to many young people and give them a realistic description of the life of a dancer.

This book was a finalist nominee for the 2005 Rocky Mountain Book Award and the 2003 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction.

“Chan tells her story in Beyond the Dance with signature delicacy, precision and passion. There are the qualities that imbue her dancing – and dancing is her life.” Veronica Tennant, C.C., Former Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, Order of Canada and recipient of the Canada Council Walter Carsen Prize.

This fascinating look at the life of a dancer will appeal not only to the legions of Chan Hon Goh’s admirers and to students of ballet, but also to young readers who understand what it is to pursue a dream.

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