SOLVED. Children's book about a young American ballet dancer who loses her top spot to a Russian transfer student who joins her academy (1980s). [s]

[Amy]

The plot of the book is that there is a pre-teen ballet student who is the best in her class and she is set on playing the Sugar Plum Fairy in the next Nutcracker production. This gets upended when a Russian dancer moves to town and joins the class. The ending (spoiler) is when the main character ends up dancing the role of Sugar Plum Fairy but in the basement of a rec center and "learns a valuable lesson."

Some details that stick out:
The Russian dancer gets called out for having a perfect ballet bun in class when the protagonist forgets her hair supplies.

The Russian father (who may be a chauffeur) hands a bouquet of flowers upside down.

[Rosa]

Samantha on Stage?

[Amy]

Rosa wrote: "Samantha on Stage?"

Yes!! Thank you so much!

[Amy]

Solved!

[Rosa]

Great, you're very welcome!

[SamSpayedPI]

Amy:

I suggest you create another topic for the second book; it will reduce confusion, and make it easier for others to find.

[Kris]

What SamSpayedPI said. One thread per book request, please.

Tips for posting a book request - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Rosa]

Some guesses as to the other book:
Jill and the Nutcracker Ballet
The Terrible Tryouts (this has other names, too)
Frances Dances
Dance, Kayla!
Rosie's Nutcracker Dreams
Last Dance