Dance in the 21st century is so much more than women in pink tights doing routines choreographed for them by men. Why is that? Sara Veale seeks to give some of the answers to that question in her debut non-fiction title, Wild Grace.

This lavish hardback tells the stories of nine female dancers who set the stage for generations of artists to come. Highlighting the groundbreaking work of dancers who often risked their own reputations to challenge the norm, Wild Grace demonstrates how the genres we know and love today were informed by pioneering women.

Covering well-trodden ground, such as the lives of Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham, Veale also examines the contributions of dancers who are lesser known to the average Joe but still as essential to the history of dance: notably, Black choreographer and anthropologist Pearl Primus.

Veale’s passion for her subject comes through in her work, painting detailed and atmospheric portraits of women who were as complex as the worlds they inhabited. A fascinating and detailed account of modern dance and the women who made it possible, Wild Grace is a must-read for fans of theatre history and feminist writing.