Dancing Past the Light: The Life of Tanaquil Le Clercq

Dancing Past the Light is a book that tells the story of Tanaquil Tanny Le Clercq, a world-famous ballerina who became paralyzed with polio at the height of her career. It explores her life, marriage to choreographer George Balanchine, and her friendships with other dancers, including Jerome Robbins. Despite her tragic fate, Le Clercq reinvented herself as a writer and dance teacher and advocated for racial equality and disability rights in the arts. The book is filled with previously unpublished photos, personal letters, and sketches by Balanchine, offering an intimate portrait of Le Clercq's dancing life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2021
Publisher: University Press of Florida

Dancing Past the Light is a captivating cinematic journey that delves into the extraordinary and tragic life of Tanaquil Tanny Le Clercq (1929-2000), one of the most celebrated ballerinas of the twentieth century. Born in Paris, Le Clercq's journey to stardom began at the age of 19 when she became a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, captivating audiences worldwide with her grace and artistry. Her marriage to renowned choreographer George Balanchine, who saw her as his muse and the prototype of his exquisite, long-limbed ballerinas, was a passionate and intense union. Enhanced with a wealth of previously unpublished photos, personal letters, and sketches by Balanchine, this book offers an intimate portrait of Le Clercq's dancing life and her profound relationship with her mentor and husband.

However, tragedy struck when Le Clercq contracted polio while on tour in Europe at the age of 27, ending her dancing career forever. Despite this devastating setback, Le Clercq refused to let her disability define her. She reinvented herself as a writer and dance teacher, sharing her passion for the art form with others. Her legacy as an advocate for racial equality and disability rights in the arts is also noteworthy, as she participated in the company's first interracial pas de deux with Arthur Mitchell in 1955 and later became involved with Mitchell's Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she taught from a wheelchair, keeping alive the dances she had loved.

Dancing Past the Light is a poignant and inspiring testament to the resilience and determination of Le Clercq. Through insights from interviews with her former friends, students, and colleagues, the film depicts her journey from a world-famous ballerina to a beloved teacher and advocate. Le Clercq's story reminds us that adversity can be a catalyst for growth and that true beauty lies not only in physical ability but also in the spirit and determination of the human heart.

Weight: 696g
Dimension: 234 x 238 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813069029