To Dance: Special Edition is a graphic novel by Siena Cherson Siegel and focuses on the author’s
life and mostly her life in dance. In several ways, this feels like an abridged version of older edition (though publisher notes say it is expanded). This allows it to be a nice introduction, filled with details but without being overwhelming. You get to see the journey of a dancer from a young age to an adult. You see the passion she had (and has) for dance. You see what odds she had to overcome and the sacrifices her family made for her.
The illustrations by Mark Siegel are actually a bit unique. While realistic, they do have a fanciful look to them as well. Sometimes odd colors or tones accent each page. They give everything a bright, but also at times, somber feeling. Not only do we see Siegel’s life play out before us, we see images of what dancers do from a book that inspired our author to follow her passion even more than she already wanted to. Every page is filled from top to bottom, but where there is lack of detail is as important as where there is detail.
If you have no interest in dancing, that is fine. I have little interest, but what Siegel gives keeps the readers interest and I starting to feel for this person. Sometimes I felt her selfish, other times selfless. Sometimes I felt her wise beyond her years, sometimes very young. The reader takes this journey with Siegel. Images from her scrapbooks also included.