📚 The Ultimate Summer Reading List for Dancers (That Dance Moms Will Actually Approve)

Let’s be real: Between intensives, random beach days, and your dancer insisting they “don’t NEED to practice their solo,” summer gets weird.

You want them to grow—but also rest. Stay inspired—but also off their phone. And maybe learn something without complaining about it.

Enter: the perfect summer reading list for dancers that blends stories, strength, and a little sparkle.

These aren’t just books. They’re tools, confidence boosters, and reminders that dance is about the whole dancer—not just the 8-counts.

🔹 Affiliate Disclosure: Hey there! Just a heads-up—some of the links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you!). I spend a lot of time researching, curating, and updating these lists. Your support means so much and helps me keep sharing the best finds. Thanks for being here! 💕

🧡 Biographies & Memoirs

Inspiring true stories to help your dancer remember why they started.

1. Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina – Misty Copeland

Age: 12+

The powerful journey of Misty becoming the first African American principal dancer at ABT. It's honest, emotional, and seriously empowering.

2. Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina – Michaela DePrince

Age: 13+

From a war-torn country to the world stage—Michaela’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. Warning: it will make your dancer cry in the best way.

3. Bunheads – Misty Copeland

Age: 4–8

A beautifully illustrated picture book for littles—especially great for younger siblings or beginner ballerinas.

4. A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back – David Hallberg

Age: 15+

A deeper, introspective read from a former principal with ABT and the Bolshoi. For serious dancers who want to understand the pressure and passion of elite performance.

💪 Technique & Training

For the dancer who insists on doing "just one more combo" before bed.

5. Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet – Gail Grant

Age: 12+

The go-to for ballet nerds. Clear definitions, proper terms, and easy-to-read entries. A must-have for students in Level 3 and up.

6. Dance Anatomy – Jacqui Greene Haas

Age: 13+

This visual guide blends fitness, science, and movement.

7. The Dancer’s Way: The NYCB Guide to Mind, Body, and Nutrition – Linda H. Hamilton

Age: 14+

An underrated gem. Covers rest, recovery, cross-training, and what to eat before class (without sounding like a diet plan).

🧠 Mindset, Wellness & Motivation

Dance is mental as much as physical—and these books prove it.

8. The Ballerina Mindset – Megan Fairchild

Age: 13+

Written by a former NYCB principal, this book offers mental-health wisdom and career insights. It’s honest, real, and comes with tips for managing stress, pressure, and training intensity .

9. Every Count Matters: Mindset Training for Dancers – Clay & Gagnon

Age: 12+

A workbook‑style guide with daily mindset drills, performance triggers, and mental strategies. Designed just for dancers, it’s practical and confidence‑boosting

10. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth

Age: 14+

Not dance-specific, but every ambitious dancer should read it. Think of it as the “you can do hard things” playbook.

🎀 Creative & Just for Fun

Sometimes the best growth comes from storytelling and joy.

11. Tiny Pretty Things – Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton

Age: 14+

High drama in a competitive ballet school. Dance world meets "Gossip Girl." There’s even a Netflix adaptation, so they can read-then-binge.

12. To Dance: A Ballerina’s Graphic Novel – Siena Cherson Siegel

Age: 8–12

A visual memoir of a young girl becoming a ballerina. Honest and beautifully drawn—especially great for dancers who don’t love reading.

13. Ballet Shoes – Noel Streatfeild

Age: 9–12

A vintage classic full of charm, theatre life, and sisterhood. Bonus: it’s wholesome and mom-approved for younger dancers.

💬 Wrapping It Up: Why a Summer Reading List for Dancers Matters

Here’s the thing: Your dancer doesn’t need just more training this summer. They need insight. Inspiration. Perspective.

This summer reading list for dancers helps them grow inside and out—whether they're six, sixteen, or somewhere in between.

Because what happens between the pirouettes matters just as much as what happens on stage.

Happy reading—and hey, maybe you’ll sneak a few chapters for yourself, too. 😉