I took a ballet class in college to improve my football. I like to think it made me graceful. Years later, I returned to dance. This book is about how a dance comes together — from choreography to opening night. I went to a lot of performances: Alvin Ailey, Mark Morris, some ensembles best described as “interesting.” What was most useful was going to rehearsals. I sketched a modern dance class at Cal countless times. I watched dancers’ rhythms: stretching, sweating, drinking water, practicing until each move was perfect. That class gave me a huge appreciation for the athleticism and hard work that goes into creating dance.
