Becoming spectacular The rhythm of resilience from the first African American Rockette

Although the Rockettes started dancing as the Roxyettes at New York City's Radio City Music Hall in 1932, it wasn't until 1987 that an African American dancer joined the legendary kick line. Jones is that dancer, and this is the story of her journey from childhood dance recitals in New Jersey to the ranks of the famed precision dance troupe and beyond. She writes with candor and great feeling about her life before, during, and after her 15-year career as a Rockette. Although she often faced pushback, prejudice, and slights, she persevered and followed her dream with tenacity and grace, from her debut with the Rockettes during the Super Bowl XXII halftime show in 1988 to her role in the ensemble of the Tony Award--winning revival of 42nd Street on Broadway in 2001. Today Jones is an advocate for the arts and, as a colon cancer survivor, for early disease detection, as well as an author. Her first book was for children, On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette (2023).

In this endearing debut memoir, Jones, the first Black woman to become a Radio City Rockette, chronicles the obstacles she faced--from racism to weigh-ins to complex choreography--and the thrills of performing with the popular dance troupe. As a biracial child growing up in 1970s New Jersey, Jones got her first hint that she could have a future onstage when she saw The Wiz on Broadway (she writes that it showed "this little Black girl that her dreams of being part of a live Broadway cast... could indeed come true"). Though Jones's parents harbored doubts about her decision to pursue the arts, Jones booked a spot on the Rockettes at an open call when she was 20 years old. In 1988, she made her debut with the troupe on live TV during the Super Bowl halftime show. As Jones pulls the curtain back on the highs and lows of life as a professional dancer, she also covers her bout with cancer, poignantly shedding light on the difficulty and importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. While the prose is fairly unremarkable, Jones's story is inspiring enough to appeal to performers and fans alike. Agent: Johanna Castillo, Writers House. (Feb.)