'This bubbly, inclusive story, filled with meticulous detail, will be a winner for 7+ dance fanatics' - Guardian, on Ballet Besties: Yara's Chance to Dance

Pirouette your way into the Shimmer & Shine dance studio, where the ballet besties are ready to put on a show!

Indu loves learning ballet at Shimmer & Shine, her local community dance school. Unlike her friends, she doesn't want to be a principal dancer when she grows up, and she's a bit scared of being on stage, but it's still one of her favourite hobbies.

Until Miss Diamond announces that this term they'll be putting on a performance of Cinderella! Suddenly everyone's talking about what lead role they want and how fun it will be to dance for an audience, and Indu is feeling nervous and left out.

What role will she audition for? Will her friends understand her worries? And will she ever be able to conquer her stage fright?

A fun, inclusive and accessible series that will bring the joy of dance to young readers aged 6+!

By featuring characters of all ages, genders, ethnicities and body size, the exuberant Ballet Besties adventures break down the traditional idea of what a ballet dancer looks like and bring the joy of classical ballet to young readers. Dancing delights for everyone! -- Pam Norfolk * Lancashire Evening Post *
a joy from start to finish [...] This is a must read for ballet fans, but will also be enjoyed by readers who love stories about friendship and working. * LoveReading4Kids *

Yasmine Naghdi (Author)
Yasmine Naghdi is a Principal of The Royal Ballet and has been dancing with the Company since 2010. Her many roles with The Royal Ballet include Odette/Odile (Swan Lake), Princess Aurora (The Sleeping Beauty), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet) and The Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker). She has performed all over the world and is passionate about showing that ballet is for everyone.

Chitra Soundar (Author)
Chitra Soundar is a writer and dreamer of many things. As well as writing books, Chitra is a speaker, oral storyteller and screenwriter. Her stories are inspired by her family, her childhood in India, which was filled with epics and folktales, and her travels around the world. Chitra has performed at literary festivals across the globe, telling stories and introducing the magic of writing to children everywhere.

Paula Franco (Illustrator)
Paula Franco is an illustrator living in Rosario, Argentina. She studied Illustration & Graphic Design at Instituto Superior Comunicación Visual. Her work has been featured in the New York Times Children's Best Seller list and has been awarded a Kirkus Star and a School Library Journal Star.