Every Step You Take
A Memoir
Jock Soto(Author)
Harper (Publisher)
Published on 5. November 2011
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-06-173238-6 (ISBN)
Description
In June of 2005, forty-year-old Jock Soto gave his farewell performance as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. An unprecedented event, the program, involving pieces from five legendary choreographers, capped one of the most storied careers in ballet history. For Soto, dancing was all I had ever done in life -a career that began when he was just three years old. But before he could wholeheartedly embrace a new future, Soto found himself obsessed with questions of the past; where he came from and where he'd been. "Every Step You Take" weaves together the diverse strands of Soto's life: being the son of a muy macho Puerto Rican father and a beautiful Navajo princess of a mother; being gay in a straight world; and, having a career as notable for its auspicious start as its consistent success. Soto recalls his professional relationships with such icons as Christopher Wheeldon, Darci Kistler, Lourdes Lopez, and many others. And he describes the newest chapter in his life, teaching at the renowned School of American Ballet. Intimate and moving, "Every Step You Take" shows us the honest and inspiring evolution of a remarkable man, a brilliant artist, and a living legend.
Reviews / Votes
"Soto must add 'eloquent memoirist' to his attainments. [Every Step You Take] is lovely for its graceful inward and outward gaze and its narrative flow." -- Library Journal (starred review) "[Jock's] story, a true nowhere-to-somewhere tale, gathers momentum, it achieves a narrative power and an essential sweetness that is never cloying or annoying...A powerful story, affectionately told, about the demands and dimensions of personal and professional success." -- Kirkus Reviews "Soto offers inspirational insights into a dancer's creative process." -- Publishers Weekly "Jock Soto's story is as poignant as his dancing. Every Step You Take is an inspirational journey that reveals a life on and beyond the stage. A must-read for any artist who sacrifices for their art." -- Padma Lakshmi, author, actress, model and host of Emmy Award-winning show Top Chef "Airborne in spirit, earthbound in truth, the words are moving and masterful. Like the dancer himself." -- Tommy TuneMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
395 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-173238-6 (9780061732386)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jock Soto joined the New York City Ballet in 1981. He was promoted to soloist in 1984 and to principal dancer in 1985. He has danced featured roles in countless ballets, many of which were created specifically for him. He has been a permanent member of the faculty at the School of American Ballet since 1996, and in 2007 he was the subject of the critically acclaimed documentary Water Flowing Together. He lives in New York City with his partner, Luis Fuentes, a sommelier.