Author: Gavin Larsen ISBN: 978-0-8130-6689-9 Suggesting that the life of a professional ballet dancer requires extraordinary devotion, years of study, endurance, and exceptional coordination would be a vast understatement, particularly after reading Gavin Larsen's memoir, Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life. At the tender age of eight, Larsen begins her studies and performs as a professional for eighteen years until 2010, when she retires. Her career included performing the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Oregon Ballet Theatre, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and the Alberta Ballet and guest artist with Ballet Victoria. In her memoir, Larsen offers thoughtful perspectives, recollections and heart-pounding adventures that are fleshed out with colourful descriptions as she candidly exposes many highs and lows of her career in a competitive ballet environment.