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Dancing on Thorns
Jonni Kendal and Jean-Baptiste St. Michel have come to London separately in pursuit of their dreams. Michel is haunted by the man who abandoned him as a child. Driven by his determination to forge a life for himself outside the shadow of his father’s famous name, he’s ambitious, talented, and dangerously attractive–but suspicious of emotional attachments.
Full of courage but naïve, Jonni is determined to excel as an actress. Just nineteen, she’s made up her mind to escape the narrow, parochial life her parents have planned for her. When Michel rescues Jonni one night and takes her home, there’s an immediate attraction. Jonni soon finds herself embraced by an exciting new world filled with bohemian dancers and musicians, a family of planets orbiting around their sun–Michel.
But before Michel can commit to any kind of future–with or without Jonni–he must free himself from his past. And when tragedy brings him to the edge of a fiery burnout, Jonni and the pair’s friends must rally to save all they have come to count on.
Full of courage but naïve, Jonni is determined to excel as an actress. Just nineteen, she’s made up her mind to escape the narrow, parochial life her parents have planned for her. When Michel rescues Jonni one night and takes her home, there’s an immediate attraction. Jonni soon finds herself embraced by an exciting new world filled with bohemian dancers and musicians, a family of planets orbiting around their sun–Michel.
But before Michel can commit to any kind of future–with or without Jonni–he must free himself from his past. And when tragedy brings him to the edge of a fiery burnout, Jonni and the pair’s friends must rally to save all they have come to count on.
800 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 18, 2012
Jean-Baptiste St Michel, known simply as Michel (thank goodness) was tempted away from England and his mother by his famous choreographer father to learn ballet in Paris. Abandoned by his absent father and disillusioned in his dancing abilities, Michel is plucked from obscurity by ballerina Nadia Petrovna to become an apprentice in the small but striving Islington Ballet. Director Charles Crown is less impressed, but Michel's determination and persistence pay off as he becomes a formidable talent.
Jonni is an aspiring actress new to London who becomes entangled in the exciting and close knit group that revolve around Michel's flat. Despite their immediate attraction, Michel's only true commitment is to dance and their relationship falters as Jonni wants more than Michel is able to give.
There's actually far more to this book than I can give in a brief synopsis; there's 730 pages and never a dull moment! It's a theatrical, passionate saga with a huge range of varied characters and sub-plots and I don't want to give anything away. I loved Michel, despite him being a self-obsessed egotist for much of the book, he's perfect! Primo is fabulous, Jonni is mildly irritating and wet and I adored the behind the scenes details and the creation of new ballets.
Even though it's not completely perfect, I lurved this book! It's totally indulgent, Jilly Cooper-esque in both size and sweeping breadth, whisking me off to another life and I couldn't put it down!
Jonni is an aspiring actress new to London who becomes entangled in the exciting and close knit group that revolve around Michel's flat. Despite their immediate attraction, Michel's only true commitment is to dance and their relationship falters as Jonni wants more than Michel is able to give.
There's actually far more to this book than I can give in a brief synopsis; there's 730 pages and never a dull moment! It's a theatrical, passionate saga with a huge range of varied characters and sub-plots and I don't want to give anything away. I loved Michel, despite him being a self-obsessed egotist for much of the book, he's perfect! Primo is fabulous, Jonni is mildly irritating and wet and I adored the behind the scenes details and the creation of new ballets.
Even though it's not completely perfect, I lurved this book! It's totally indulgent, Jilly Cooper-esque in both size and sweeping breadth, whisking me off to another life and I couldn't put it down!
January 30, 2013
Really enjoyed this book. Loved the way the characters seemed genuine, complete with their flaws. Having been in amateur theatre for decades, the bitchiness, failures, self-drive, high's and extremes were bang on: just as I would imagine a professional group to be like.
April 26, 2020
Bailando sobre espinas es un libro que tenía entre mi “estantería” desde hace 3 o 4 años pero que no había leído porque es bastante grande e intimidante (al menos la edición que yo tengo), pero con esta cuarentena no tengo mucho más que hacer y me atreví a leerlo.
No podría estar más feliz con la decisión de hacerlo. Es un libro que ha llenado mis días de felicidad y me mantuvo queriendo saber más y más. Aunque al final, cuando termine de leerlo, me sentía vacía.
Michel es un hombre, bailarín de ballet y que no es difícil de llevar, ni de querer, ni de entender. El dedica su vida entera a el baile, al principio lo hace para impresionar a su padre, pero en el camino se da cuenta de que en realidad el baile es lo que le gusta hacer.
En camino me fui identificando más y más con Michel porque lo vemos desde que es un pequeño de 8 años que decide mudarse a Paris para bailar pero a medida que va creciendo se va dando cuenta de que su vida no es igual. Y todos en algún momento nos hemos sentido así.
Jonni es una joven actriz que quiere triunfar en el mundo del teatro, pero luego se encuentra con Michel y su alocado grupo de amigos y su vida da un vuelco de 80 grados. Jonni es la personificación de todo lo que es lindo y puro en este mundo.
Ella solo quiere un cuento de hadas romántico, querer y ser querida, pero como Michel no tiene las mismas ideas que ella, se frustra. Pero luego cuando avanza el tiempo en el libro vemos como ella madura, cambia y es independiente.
Entre otros personajes esta Lynne que al principio del libro es una celopata con Michel, pues ha sido su compañero de baile toda la vida. Pero luego madura y se convierte en una mujer segura de sí misma. ¡Bravo por ti cariño!
Luego esta Annette, me cae súper mal, el peor personaje de esta historia. Cuando es joven es muy segura de sí misma, al punto de caer en el egocentrismo. A pesar de que su profesión le exige ser delgada, ella sigue comiendo sin pensar en las consecuencias. No diré nada del hecho de que es promiscua, porque eso no me molesta.
También esta Roly, este hombre es hermoso, bondadoso, cariñoso (todo lo que termine en “oso”). Es un bailarín que ha tenido que luchar desde muy joven para poder llegar hasta donde está. Siempre es amigable con sus amigos y no te ofende o te insulta. Tiene problemas de ira, pero no se muestra sin razón en la historia.
Luego tenemos a Primo, en realidad no se llama así, pero ese nombre le queda muy bien. Es un italiano proveniente de una familia de pianistas pero él es el único bailarín, a pesar de las oposiciones de su padre.
Hay muchos personajes más, pero estos son los principales.
Hablando de la historia, es muy buena y entretenida. Jamás pensé que el ballet me entretendría como lo hizo este libro, hasta me dieron ganas de ir a ver una presentación en Londres o Paris, incluso en Los Angeles. Si hubo momentos en los que sentí que la historia no avanzaba o que no tenían mucho sentido para mí, pero eso no significa que dejara de entretenerme.
Trata una enfermedad mental que yo nunca había visto hasta ahora. Trata temas de depresión, presión social, decepción familiar, infidelidad pero también trata cosas como superación, autoconfianza, amor, amistad y eso para mí es más que cualquier otra cosa. Ver como los personajes evolucionan a pesar de que la situación a su alrededor no es fácil, es algo que me llena el corazoncito de alegría.
El final desgarrador, es un lindo final pero me dolió mucho.
Yo lo recomiendo para quien quiera leerlo, es entretenido y es muy lindo.
No podría estar más feliz con la decisión de hacerlo. Es un libro que ha llenado mis días de felicidad y me mantuvo queriendo saber más y más. Aunque al final, cuando termine de leerlo, me sentía vacía.
Michel es un hombre, bailarín de ballet y que no es difícil de llevar, ni de querer, ni de entender. El dedica su vida entera a el baile, al principio lo hace para impresionar a su padre, pero en el camino se da cuenta de que en realidad el baile es lo que le gusta hacer.
“-No menosprecies el llanto –le aconsejo Crown-. Los hombres pasamos los primeros doce años de nuestra vida aprendiendo a no llorar y los siguientes cincuenta intentando recordar cómo se hacía.”
En camino me fui identificando más y más con Michel porque lo vemos desde que es un pequeño de 8 años que decide mudarse a Paris para bailar pero a medida que va creciendo se va dando cuenta de que su vida no es igual. Y todos en algún momento nos hemos sentido así.
Jonni es una joven actriz que quiere triunfar en el mundo del teatro, pero luego se encuentra con Michel y su alocado grupo de amigos y su vida da un vuelco de 80 grados. Jonni es la personificación de todo lo que es lindo y puro en este mundo.
Ella solo quiere un cuento de hadas romántico, querer y ser querida, pero como Michel no tiene las mismas ideas que ella, se frustra. Pero luego cuando avanza el tiempo en el libro vemos como ella madura, cambia y es independiente.
“Jonni, tesoro, eres muy hermosa. Y tu cara también lo es. No quieras ser como otras personas. Eres fresca y joven. Tu espontaneidad es encantadora; te hace especial. Jamás te avergüences de tu inocencia. Es maravilloso soñar despierta; solo le pido a Dios que nadie te quite ese don jamás.”
Entre otros personajes esta Lynne que al principio del libro es una celopata con Michel, pues ha sido su compañero de baile toda la vida. Pero luego madura y se convierte en una mujer segura de sí misma. ¡Bravo por ti cariño!
Luego esta Annette, me cae súper mal, el peor personaje de esta historia. Cuando es joven es muy segura de sí misma, al punto de caer en el egocentrismo. A pesar de que su profesión le exige ser delgada, ella sigue comiendo sin pensar en las consecuencias. No diré nada del hecho de que es promiscua, porque eso no me molesta.
También esta Roly, este hombre es hermoso, bondadoso, cariñoso (todo lo que termine en “oso”). Es un bailarín que ha tenido que luchar desde muy joven para poder llegar hasta donde está. Siempre es amigable con sus amigos y no te ofende o te insulta. Tiene problemas de ira, pero no se muestra sin razón en la historia.
Luego tenemos a Primo, en realidad no se llama así, pero ese nombre le queda muy bien. Es un italiano proveniente de una familia de pianistas pero él es el único bailarín, a pesar de las oposiciones de su padre.
Hay muchos personajes más, pero estos son los principales.
“-. Era la primera bailarina del Royal hasta que la despidieron. Se llama Carlotta di Gian-Tomaso.
-No puede llamarse así… ¿Has dicho Carlotta del gran tomate?”
Hablando de la historia, es muy buena y entretenida. Jamás pensé que el ballet me entretendría como lo hizo este libro, hasta me dieron ganas de ir a ver una presentación en Londres o Paris, incluso en Los Angeles. Si hubo momentos en los que sentí que la historia no avanzaba o que no tenían mucho sentido para mí, pero eso no significa que dejara de entretenerme.
Trata una enfermedad mental que yo nunca había visto hasta ahora. Trata temas de depresión, presión social, decepción familiar, infidelidad pero también trata cosas como superación, autoconfianza, amor, amistad y eso para mí es más que cualquier otra cosa. Ver como los personajes evolucionan a pesar de que la situación a su alrededor no es fácil, es algo que me llena el corazoncito de alegría.
El final desgarrador, es un lindo final pero me dolió mucho.
Yo lo recomiendo para quien quiera leerlo, es entretenido y es muy lindo.
“-El mundo es un lugar hostil, Jonni. No pienses en la fealdad. Trata de encontrar la belleza donde puedas”
August 19, 2018
Actually one of the best books I've ever read. The blurb doesn't do it justice at all. The characters are so realistic and the challenges they face break your heart. I'd highly recommend it for holiday reading!
November 1, 2021
A love story between two fascinating characters set to ballet, with poetry, tears and raptures
For some reason she can’t herself explain, Nadia Petrovna, dowager étoile from the Diaghilev era, plucks awkward Jean-Baptiste St. Michel from the Académie in Paris for a scholarship at her Islington Ballet studio.
Michel is the son of a famous choreographer working abroad, whom he has not seen in years, and after he leaves his mother for a career in ballet, they, also, become estranged.
His uncle Jim dies, leaving him a large flat in Pimlico, which he and his Italian ballerino friend Primo convert into a dance studio and party pad. Enter Jonni, who has come to London as an aspiring actress and meets Michel at a party. As boys do, Michel casually lets Jonni know he’s been sleeping with his pas de deux partner Lynne, who casually informs Jonni that ‘we’ve all slept with each other in our gang’. He rudely ignores her for 90 pages while she follows along, infatuated by him and by his world, eventually being rewarded with a lover who, despite lack of commitment, makes love the way he dances.
Michel is propelled into a lead role, and he catches the eye of Martyn Greene, artistic director of the British National Ballet. Islington’s head choreographer Charles Crown reveals his hand. Far from scrutinising his every plié out of opprobrium, as had been Michel’s impression, Crown has spotted his promise and has been moulding him for stardom. Jonni follows him, cooking for the dance troupe, as he climbs the ladder of success.
I had always heard that the world of professional ballet was a competitive, bitchy scene, but the dancers in the Islington corps, here, love each other deeply, and these profound friendships carry them through the failures and successes of show biz and the highs and heartaches of their personal lives.
In the end, in order to make things right, Michel has to confront his demons, and Jonni has to take a risk.
Many interesting characters come onto the scene: the proud, statuesque prima ballerina Annette; the handsy actor Grant Noble; the leading actress full of wise words Maggie Lane; Leum the director who swears by saying ‘oh, panties!’; Roly, who went to a (dirty world in the ballet world) ‘stage school’; Carlotta di Gian-Tomaso, nicknamed the Giant Tomato; the tutor Marcus who became Marina; Jonni’s ‘tight-lipped, fifteen-denier tan-stockinged’ mother Veronica; the fat, vitriolic arts critic Boyle.
All contribute to a story painted in all the colours of the rainbow, featuring some really beautiful writing. It’s a long novel, but I couldn’t put it down.
For some reason she can’t herself explain, Nadia Petrovna, dowager étoile from the Diaghilev era, plucks awkward Jean-Baptiste St. Michel from the Académie in Paris for a scholarship at her Islington Ballet studio.
Michel is the son of a famous choreographer working abroad, whom he has not seen in years, and after he leaves his mother for a career in ballet, they, also, become estranged.
His uncle Jim dies, leaving him a large flat in Pimlico, which he and his Italian ballerino friend Primo convert into a dance studio and party pad. Enter Jonni, who has come to London as an aspiring actress and meets Michel at a party. As boys do, Michel casually lets Jonni know he’s been sleeping with his pas de deux partner Lynne, who casually informs Jonni that ‘we’ve all slept with each other in our gang’. He rudely ignores her for 90 pages while she follows along, infatuated by him and by his world, eventually being rewarded with a lover who, despite lack of commitment, makes love the way he dances.
Michel is propelled into a lead role, and he catches the eye of Martyn Greene, artistic director of the British National Ballet. Islington’s head choreographer Charles Crown reveals his hand. Far from scrutinising his every plié out of opprobrium, as had been Michel’s impression, Crown has spotted his promise and has been moulding him for stardom. Jonni follows him, cooking for the dance troupe, as he climbs the ladder of success.
I had always heard that the world of professional ballet was a competitive, bitchy scene, but the dancers in the Islington corps, here, love each other deeply, and these profound friendships carry them through the failures and successes of show biz and the highs and heartaches of their personal lives.
In the end, in order to make things right, Michel has to confront his demons, and Jonni has to take a risk.
Many interesting characters come onto the scene: the proud, statuesque prima ballerina Annette; the handsy actor Grant Noble; the leading actress full of wise words Maggie Lane; Leum the director who swears by saying ‘oh, panties!’; Roly, who went to a (dirty world in the ballet world) ‘stage school’; Carlotta di Gian-Tomaso, nicknamed the Giant Tomato; the tutor Marcus who became Marina; Jonni’s ‘tight-lipped, fifteen-denier tan-stockinged’ mother Veronica; the fat, vitriolic arts critic Boyle.
All contribute to a story painted in all the colours of the rainbow, featuring some really beautiful writing. It’s a long novel, but I couldn’t put it down.
May 20, 2018
Lo leí en el 2012
Recuerdo que cuando lo vi me encanto su portada (que por cierto no es la edición que elegí, no la encontré) y la sinopsis me llamó tanto la atención que decidí darle una oportunidad cuando me lo compré (además que era una versión de tapa dura que estaba de oferta). Es una historia romántica. Trata sobre un bailarín de ballet y una actriz de teatro que se enamoran, él es capaz de hacer sentir a una persona el cielo entre sus manos, pero a la vez él no siente nada por nadie. Eso es lo que más odié de Michel (entiendo que fue olvidado por su famoso padre y lejos de su madre, el baile se convierte en su única pasión, su única razón de ser. Pero en ocasiones, por no decir, la mayoría de veces me pareció un egoísta de lo último)
Recuerdo que cuando lo vi me encanto su portada (que por cierto no es la edición que elegí, no la encontré) y la sinopsis me llamó tanto la atención que decidí darle una oportunidad cuando me lo compré (además que era una versión de tapa dura que estaba de oferta). Es una historia romántica. Trata sobre un bailarín de ballet y una actriz de teatro que se enamoran, él es capaz de hacer sentir a una persona el cielo entre sus manos, pero a la vez él no siente nada por nadie. Eso es lo que más odié de Michel (entiendo que fue olvidado por su famoso padre y lejos de su madre, el baile se convierte en su única pasión, su única razón de ser. Pero en ocasiones, por no decir, la mayoría de veces me pareció un egoísta de lo último)
October 3, 2019
I read this when I was a teenager and adored it. When I came across it again in the library, I couldn't resist re-reading it, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. It's a wonderful, romantic story with likeable characters, intriguing details about the lifestyle of ballet dancers, and many unexpected twists and turns of the plot.
May 23, 2020
Not for the fainthearted. But if you push through, worth every page and sentence and detail. Raw and authentic. Brilliant!
February 6, 2021
Absolutely loved this book. Hard to put down
November 21, 2025
thank you to my english teacher for recommending this to me 7 years ago, i feel like i lived a whole life while reading it <3
January 3, 2024
3.5. I certainly know more about ballet than I did before reading this book. It's quite a large book, and some of it could have been left out, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
May 20, 2012
Jonni Kendal and Jean-Baptiste St. Michel have come to London separately in pursuit of their dreams. Michel is haunted by the man who abandoned him as a child. Driven by his determination to forge a life for himself outside the shadow of his father’s famous name, he’s ambitious, talented, and dangerously attractive–but suspicious of emotional attachments.
Full of courage but naïve, Jonni is determined to excel as an actress. Just nineteen, she’s made up her mind to escape the narrow, parochial life her parents have planned for her. When Michel rescues Jonni one night and takes her home, there’s an immediate attraction. Jonni soon finds herself embraced by an exciting new world filled with bohemian dancers and musicians, a family of planets orbiting around their sun–Michel.
Full of courage but naïve, Jonni is determined to excel as an actress. Just nineteen, she’s made up her mind to escape the narrow, parochial life her parents have planned for her. When Michel rescues Jonni one night and takes her home, there’s an immediate attraction. Jonni soon finds herself embraced by an exciting new world filled with bohemian dancers and musicians, a family of planets orbiting around their sun–Michel.
December 31, 2016
This isn't the type of book I'd usually read.. but maybe it should be! Light but far from superficial, this tale was filled with involving characters and interwoven plots. Set in the world of dance and theatre, the dialogue and cast have an authentic feel (thanks in part to the author's own experiences) and the fast-paced, engaging writing style keeps you gripped to the very end. Unputdownable escapism, the perfect holiday read!
February 8, 2010
Ah yes...the epic romance/dance novel, about a group of dancers in Europe. get ready for nearly 800 pages of romance and drama, and of course, my favorite, BALLET!!!! this book probably isnt for most, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like movies like "Center Stage", you will likely want to read this. It's a guilty pleasure book--like eating chocolate for breakfast!
Read
August 8, 2019This book still haunts me today. I was sucked into the story immediately and admire much of what the author did with the work. Yet...there were issues with the story, especially the ending, that rang hollow. I don't need my endings to be happy, but it needs to work.
September 29, 2009
What amazing depths of characters. It's as if I were one of the friends who joined in the commraderie of the flat. I couldn't stop reading bc I always wanted to know what the next project was. Thanks for the recommendation Becky!
July 1, 2012
I really tried hard for week to finish this book ,because I loved the way it was written. But the problem was that the story didn't interest me I didn't care for the characters and the events .A lot of the main character were selfish and made the Ballet community look awful.
December 4, 2013
I read this book many years ago and was always hopeful that it would com out in an ebook version, it captivated me and was ground breaking for me in that it introduced me to erotic genre. I absolutely loved the writing style and wished for more from this author.
December 1, 2014
I love how the characters are portrayed with their flaws and forts. It's got me hooked and amazed. I have never really tried to sit down and understand ballet but this book makes me want to go watch a couple of shows already. Great read.
February 14, 2019
This was one of the first books I bought and read.
I LOVED the story.
Different setting to what I'm used too, and I have read it over and over again.
I never wanted to stop reading about St. Michel and his life. Wonderfully put together, and will always be one I go back to.
I LOVED the story.
Different setting to what I'm used too, and I have read it over and over again.
I never wanted to stop reading about St. Michel and his life. Wonderfully put together, and will always be one I go back to.
September 9, 2008
For those who used to do ballet... it's fun to be immersed in that world again! Complete with french names of steps all spelled out perfectly.
January 22, 2009
My mum reckons that this is one of the best books she has ever read. I found it light - great plane reading!
Read
October 20, 2009I don't typically delve into "chick lit" but this was well-written, entertaining, with a good cast and an interesting inside look at the dance world. I recommend it.
July 8, 2010
Loved, loved, loved this book. It was not at all what I expected, and went so far beyond just being a story about kids who love ballet. Couldn't put it down, hated that it had to end.
September 19, 2011
One of my all time favorites.
September 25, 2011
good book, gives a credible insight into the world of ballet and makes you care about the characters.
March 13, 2013
A little slow in places and not something I would normally read, but I did quite enjoy it.
August 29, 2013
Incredible read, and I still read this book again today, just to remember that there is good literature out in the world.
January 11, 2015
A book about dance, passion, hard work, determination, love, sacrifice, frustration, heartbreak, discovering self, with characters as complex as life itself
August 15, 2012
all about ballet life good read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews