Behind the Ballet Curtain | Australia News

Ariane Beeston’s new YA novel Don’t Forget to Smile plunges readers into the glittering, brutal world of competitive ballet through the eyes of two teens—Clara, the seasoned prodigy, and Elle, the TikTok-fueled newcomer. As they chase dreams on stage, the story exposes the industry’s dark underbelly: predatory behavior, rigid gender norms, and the crushing pressure to conform. Inspired by real scandals and shaped by Beeston’s own dancer past, the novel blends raw realism with hope, reflecting her journey of leaving ballet over height discrimination and finding healing through movement after motherhood. Now teaching adults, she sees dance as therapy—and this book as a rallying cry for change, blending art, accountability, and the transformative power of dance. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c7292ad503a6de99