"You don't have to know anything about ballet to start reading Nicole Cuffy's lyrical debut about a Black principal ballerina with the New York City Ballet, but you'll have a deep appreciation of it by the time you finish . . . a profound and captivating examination of family, ambition, power, and sacrifice."--Bustle

"This debut novel by the author of a decorated work of short fiction, 2018's Atlas of the Body, is an examination of the physical and spiritual costs all artists must pay in the pursuit of their art."--The Millions

"A striking debut that centers on Cece Cordell, a Black rising star of the New York City Ballet, as she questions whether she will ever find fulfillment within the stern, ultra-white fortress of classical dance. Cuffy's prose pours into Cece--head, heart, and body--and creates a moving portrait of an artist seeking to know herself and stretch the boundaries of her craft."--Oprah Daily

"Nicole Cuffy sweeps us into the insider world of ballet with a voice that is beautiful and authentic. This is a singular debut, and a vivid portrait of the heartbreak of growing up and confronting the tension between family and career."--Imbolo Mbue, author of How Beautiful We Were

"Dances is a striking ode to the world of ballet, full of Cuffy's lush descriptions of its glittery highs and its excruciating lows. Cece's struggles with self-acceptance are achingly resonant, and this beautifully intertwined family saga and artist's journey keeps readers en pointes, propelled through the steps of a ballerina's whirlwind year."--Leila Mottley, author of Nightcrawling

"Nicole Cuffy's debut is a mesmerizing behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet, as well as an achingly human search for belonging, in both family and art. Dances is a graceful and propulsive ode to those who fed our dreams, and how our dreams feed us."--Kyle Lucia Wu, author of Win Me Something

"The closest thing most of us will ever experience to actually dancing the ballet and to life in a dancer's body."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Brilliant . . . A ballet dancer herself, Cuffy brings grace, control, and vigor to her prose. Through Cece's trials, the story movingly explores the secrets and inner demons of a performer who struggles with artistic competition, betrayal, guilt, family, and 'the ever-present weight' of her race. . . . Readers will be enchanted."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)