Strap on those dancing shoes, it’s time for “So You Want To Read Comics”, a weekly feature where we take a look at a single topic, then offer a pair of comic book recommendations that are great for new readers, based on that topic.  This week we’re taking a look at dancing.

Whether its ballet, tap, break, exotic, or otherwise, dancing is a fixture of not only in entertainment, but it also holds a special place in countless cultures and religions.  The history of dance goes back millennia, with some of the first depictions of dance appearing in nine thousand year old cave paintings in India, while European dance history can be traced to the writings of Homer.  From young ages, people are introduced to dance and it becomes a core part of their lives, from simple enjoyment to careers.  It also serves as a way for people who may find themselves away from their birthplace to hang onto a connection to their homeland, like in the case of German immigrants with polka.  Dancing also holds a place in our collective pop culture, with specific dance moves being popularized through songs and music videos (as much as we all try to forget The Macarena), as well as the continued success of dance competition TV shows. .

So, when you’re ready to take your love of cutting the rug from the floor to comic book pages, here’s a few places you can start.

To Dance: Special Edition

Writer: Siena Cherson Siegel
Artist: Mark Siegel
Publisher: Athenieum Books

Ballet is one of the oldest forms of theater out there as well as being perennially one of the most popular.  Even if you haven’t seen a performance yourself, you’ve heard names like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. But as captivating as the shows themselves might be, sometimes it’s the stories of the dancers themselves that hold the true drama.  That’s what we have here in this graphic novel. To Dance is an autobiographical memoir about Siena’s journey from growing up in Puerto Rico to training under the guidance the most famous names in the world of ballet, to finally being under the lights herself on some of the most celebrated stages out there.  While the focus of this book is Siena’s path to becoming a dancer, it also includes other elements of her life, like her family, to show how so many things can be poured into a dream to make it happen. Her story is given even more life by a lovely art style that takes on two looks based on reality and dream, giving the act of achieving ones dreams a more tactile feel.

Dance Class

Writer: Beka
Artist: Crip
Publisher: Papercutz

You can purchase this issue via the comiXology affiliate link

Being that nearly every culture and nationality has certain dances that are unique to them, it goes without saying that the world of dance is incredibly varied.  There’s just a whole heck of a lot of dances out there.  So, rather than just focusing on one of those types, Dance Class is a comic book series that takes a look at multiple styles.  Centering on three young girls who are in dance academy, this series shows their misadventures as they try and learn how to dance.  While it is aimed at younger readers, with plenty of slap-stick shenanigans and a cutesy art style, this series really does a good job with showcasing a lot of different dances.  With volumes that feature ballet, hip hop, tango, African folk dances, and many more, the net they cast is wide. A quick note, some of the reviews for this series make mention of some humor in this series that is based off of body image, so if that’s something you’re concerned with, keep that in mind when buying this one.

What did you think of these recommendations? Do you have some suggestions of your own?  Let us know in the comments section below.

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