<p>Ever since her grandparents gave her a DVD of <em>Swan Lake</em>, twelve-year-old Jenny Spark has wanted to be a ballet dancer. But on her first day of ballet class, she suffers a crippling panic attack. She&rsquo;s too terrified to practice in front of the other kids, and as for actually performing for an audience? Forget it.<br /><br />Yet Jenny refuses to give up her dream of making dance part of her life. With determination and a little deception, Jenny figures out how to observe ballet class without actually participating, and she practices in the safety of her home. Then Jenny meets her polar opposite: Ara Reyes, a bold, spontaneous, and accident-prone girl who longs for the spotlight but is overlooked in favor of the school&rsquo;s star performer.<br /><br />The girls&rsquo; friendship blossoms as they help each other find their real talents. Ara&rsquo;s dancing takes a leap forward, and Jenny discovers she has a hidden gift for choreography. With the support of the school&rsquo;s newest teacher, Jenny&rsquo;s original ballet might just make it on stage &hellip; but will she?<br /><br />Charming and inspiring, <em>Dancing on the Inside</em> shows how pursuing our passions can often lead to wonderful and unexpected results.</p>
<p>&ldquo;<em>Dancing on the Inside</em> is a fine and very much recommended read for younger readers who may be facing stage fright themselves.&rdquo;<br />&mdash;Midwest Book Review</p>