Okay, here's what I can remember, or think I can. The main character was a ballet dancer; I think her name was Rose but am not 100% certain. She was going to dance or had danced in Coppelia.

Her brother may have been her twin brother; in the story they are portrayed as having some kind of weird/mystical sibling bond. And the brother sometimes seems sort of creepy. I think this is part of the author's attempt to create ambiguity and an eerie atmosphere. His name might be Jerome.

The story involves a serial killer/stalker type guy who is chasing the main character. (Who he does not get in the end.)

The author might have been female, but I'm not sure. Most likely, I read this book in the 90s sometime.

I remembered a couple more details, but I am not 100% sure they're accurate. The book might have taken place in the fall, and I think there was a scene where the protagonist watched or helped to teach some younger dance students.

The cover may have had a dark background, with the main character in a leotard, and a guy (her brother? the stalker?) in the background looking creepy, but I'm not sure.

Nikki,

A lot of what you're describing sounds like part of the Dollanger Saga by V.C. Andrews. Is that an option?

Yeah, VC Andrews sprung to mind for me as well. Specifically Butterfly, although I read it so long ago that I can't remember if any of the plot details match your description... I do remember though that the front cover had a hole in it so you could see her face in the middle of the web, but when you opened it there was a full-page picture behind it of her in a pink tutu.

Caitlin,

Thanks for replying. I don't think so, though. I read Flowers in the Attic once, but the book I'm thinking of was actually intended for the YA audience. Sort of like Caroline Cooney or Christopher Pike's books ... though I've read summaries for most if not all of their books and nothing rang a bell.

I think there was at least one scene where the main character receives a phone call where the person on the other end either says nothing or says something to try and scare her. But as far as I can remember, the character had a fairly normal life and was never locked in an attic.

Edit: forgot to mention, as far as I know the book was a standalone.

Oh, and Sarah, thanks to you as well - your post appeared while I was writing my earlier one.

I looked at the summary of Butterfly, but I'm fairly sure the book I'm trying to remember wasn't a VC Andrews book. When I read Flowers in the Attic I was probably a little too young for it - I remember being fairly squicked by it, and I doubt I would have wanted to read another book by the same author.

How about The Stalker by Carol Ellis:
"Janna Richards, an 18-year-old dancer, is touring with the musical Grease when she begins receiving notes and flowers from an unknown admirer. The notes become increasingly disturbing, and it is soon clear that her stalker is someone close to her. Is it her old boyfriend, who didn't take their breakup well? Her jealous roommate? Or the young fan who seems to know a lot about her? Since Janna loses no opportunity to venture out alone at night, even after she is physically attacked, astute readers will sense that sooner or later one of her trips to a deserted theater will lead to a final confrontation. And by the time it does, anyone who has stuck with the story won't be surprised by the villain's identity."

I am almost positive that the dancer in the story I read was focusing on ballet - but I may be wrong. I've requested this book from the library. Thank you, Kate!

Unfortunately The Stalker is not the book in question ... right general idea, though. I'll keep looking, and if anyone else can think of any other ideas, I'd be glad to hear them.