Once upon a time, I was a ballet dancer. I loved the structure, the gracefulness, and the way it kept me in touch with my body. Any time I look back to my ballet years, I look back with fondness - and I think the reason is I never pursued it professionally. I had the chance to, but the one professional class I took was so intense, I immediately knew it wasn't for me. Even though I had the tiniest taste of the life of a professional ballerina, as an adult, I have found myself interested in the ballet thriller subgenre. With the endless competition, need for perfection, and stress it makes for the perfect pressure cooker. These stories take the intensity of ballet life and turn it into something sinister and fascinating.
1. The Dance of the Dolls by Lucy Ashe
This novel has been compared to You and Black Swan, making it perfect for those who love growing tension and suspense in their thrillers. Identical twins Olivia and Clara are practicing for the ballet Coppélia - a story about a living doll. However, each twin had a man in her life obsessed with her, blurring the lines between their dark realities and what is true. Each character's perspective adds to the suspense, with a realism to the ballet world only a professional ballerina, like Lucy Ashe, can provide.
The Dance of the Dolls is available through Union Square and Co.
2. The Turnout by Megan Abbott
A claustrophobic tale set against the backdrop of a yearly performance of The Nutcracker, Megan Abbot gives a thriller that looks into a family and their secrets. Dara and Marie's life has exclusively been about ballet, and after their parents' deaths, they started running their studio. However, this season, the studio starts to fall apart - both figuratively and literally. And as their world crumbles, it takes us on a dark, twisted, and at times unhinged look the ballet world has to offer.
The Turnout is available through Penguin Random House
3. First Position by Melanie Hamrick
Another thriller written by a professional ballerina, First Position is a thriller taking place primarily in the main character's mind. Having lost her reputation doing absolutely everything she swore she would never do, Sylvie Carter is trying to regain her career. However, with a partnership with the season's guest artist, Sylvie finds herself flourishing as a dancer - while her mind is spiraling. It's a fascinating look into how the pressure of ballet can continually break a person, while still rooting for Sylvie to give the performance of her life.
First Position is available through Penguin Random House