Mary Jessie Floor

December 2, 2016
Health 1500
Book Review:
Every Step You Take
Every Step You Take is a memoir written by Jock Soto in 2011. It describes his life and career as a
principal ballet dancer with New York City Ballet. Considered one of the greatest dancers of our time, it
depicts his early life growing up as a half-Navajo, half-Puerto Rican child struggling to find himself and
his identity. Not only was his ethnicity a challenge in the monochromatic ballet world at the time, coming
out as gay was as well. I was initially drawn to this book because I am a ballet dancer myself. I have
known about him before because he is currently a ballet instructor at the renowned School of American
Ballet. I did not know the setbacks he faced building up to his twenty four long year career with New
York City Ballet. The book also served as a helpful guide for me to discover myself after ballet, just as he
did. To dancers, dance is all they have ever known their whole life and when they are suddenly faced with
an injury or have to end their career after the impact it has put on their bodies, they are at a complete loss
as to what to do with the rest of their lives.
His ballet career was filled with much excitement and success. He became a principal dancer at
New York City Ballet at the young age of 19, in 1984, just three years after he joined in 1981. He was a
dancer whose movements were strong and powerful yet graceful. He had the opportunity to work with
many prestigious artists and choreographers such as George Balanchine Peter Martins and dancer Darci
Kistler. He performed with Ray Charles, encountered the death of George Balanchine, and survived the
attacks of September 11th in 2001. His highly successful career came to an end at the age of 40 years old.
Jock Soto after his career decided to re-discover himself and his ancestral roots. His mother died
in 2008 from colon cancer shortly after he retired in 2005. This caused him to investigate his roots and
find a new appreciation for himself. He also discovered his passion for cooking and published several
cooking books. He now is married to his partner Luis and they live happily together in New York City. A

dancers career is never long lasting and will always eventually come to an end. Not dancing like you
used to can lead the artist into depression but Jock Soto didnt let this happen. This is why I believe this
book is not only health-related but serves as inspiration to any reader, artist or not. Beautifully written and
exposing the life of an artist, it tells the reader to find out what they love and to never let difficulties you
encounter on the way prevent you from doing it.