Dance books for children and teens
Dance-themed books are built around movement, from first classes to big competitions, with all the sweat, nerves and excitement in between. Some are stories about rehearsals, auditions and friendships, others explain styles, performers and what happens behind the curtain. There are also diaries and graphic novels that fly along with expression. Dance themed book promote progress that feels earned, confidence that grows in believable steps, and teamwork that matters even for solos. This list features books by Giles Andreae, Guy Parker-Rees, Joseph Coelho, Noel Streatfeild, Eva Ibbotson, Anna Kemp, Johannes Radebe, Chitra Soundar, Katherine Woodfine, and Efua Traore.
Dance themed books for children and teens – our recommendations
Dance picture books
The Bear Who Wanted to Dance by Stephanie Stansbie and Wendy J Warren
Rita is a bear with big ballet dreams. She trains with her friend Wanda but starts to lose confidence when she compares herself to the ballerinas in glossy magazines. With gentle support from her teacher and friends, she discovers her own inner strength and keeps dancing. Illustrated by Wendy J Warren, this thought-provoking and charming picture book sets a ballet story against themes of self-belief, representation and the joy of seeing yourself reflected in what you love. It is perfect to read and discuss with 3–6 year olds in EYFS and KS1.
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
This confidence-building picture book about a determined and inspiring giraffe is a family favourite. Classes will cringe when their teachers join in with the actions. Let all the children boogie … like Gerald.
Kitchen Disco by Clare Foges and Al Murphy
When the lights go out, the fruit takes over the kitchen. Lemons spin on the floor, bananas run the decks, apples rattle their pips and grapes snake past in a conga line. Told in bouncy rhyme, each fruit gets its own moment and dance style. This vibrant picture book for 2+ year olds uses rhythm, repetition and bold illustration to turn a familiar kitchen into a full-blown night-time disco for young readers.
The Twirly Wiggly Dance by Farrah Riaz and Navya Raju
Intisar is excited for her Auntie Mahira’s wedding and the big group dance at the Walima. But everyone seems to have the steps sorted except her. When one dance move just will not work, Intisar makes up her own instead, cheered on by her family. Set at a South Asian Muslim wedding, this vibrant story for 4+ year olds celebrates confidence and doing things your own way, with bright illustrations and extra fact pages to explain the dance traditions.
Dance Just Like So! by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek
Kwesi and the neighbours join Gran for a dance class when she promises to demonstrate her award-winning Shooby Doo Mambo. But as they learn the steps, Gran injures her knee, leaving Kwesi to figure out how to continue the dance. Aimed at children aged 3 and up, this bold and lively picture book blends rhythm, movement, and problem-solving, and will inspire children to try dance and embrace creativity. Read our full review.
Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance to Dance by Yasmine Naghdi with Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Paula Franco
Follow Yara’s journey at the community Shimmer & Shine dance studio, where she and her ballet besties strive to save the studio from closure at the hands of the grumpy Dame Cloughton-Wilmott. Perfect for readers aged 7-9, this book introduces ballet concepts and will inspire young dancers to pursue their dreams through hard work and friendship.
Doggy Dance Off by Steve Smallman and Robert Starling
Doug and Duke compete in a doggy dance competition, both looking to win – until a masked dancer steals the show. With vibrant illustrations by Robert Starling, this rhyming tale celebrates inclusivity and unexpected friendships and will keep 3-6-year-olds engrossed. Doggy Dance Off is perfect for storytimes – using lively storytelling to encourage children to celebrate differences and embrace rhythm and movement.
Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella by James Mayhew
After ballet class, Ella Bella stays behind and is drawn into the story of Cinderella through a magical music box. As she steps into the ballet, elements from her own lesson connect with the tale, from the fairies to Prokofiev’s music. This illustrated story for 3–5 year olds moves between studio and stage, using pictures to link both worlds. A factual section at the end explains key features of the Cinderella ballet.
Ballet Besties: Dante’s Winning Dance by Yasmine Naghdi and Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Paula Franco
Dante loves football and ballet, but his football mates don’t quite get it. At Shimmer & Shine dance studio, he and his friends prepare for a big competition, putting their own spin on Beauty and the Beast. As he juggles both worlds, he hopes to show his teammates that dance is just as important as sport. Part of an inclusive series, this story celebrates confidence, self-expression, and following your dreams – no matter what anyone else thinks.
All the Wonderful Ways to Move by Laura Baker and Sandra de la Prada
This lively rhyming picture book gets little ones moving with wiggles, stretches, stomps and spins. From a bouncy warm-up to a gentle cool-down, it celebrates all kinds of movement styles – no right or wrong way, just fun. Perfect for early years, it encourages body confidence and energy release, whether in the classroom, at home, or just before bedtime. It’s joyful way for 3-6 year olds to link play with physical wellbeing. Highly recommended.
Carnival Queen by Donette Williams-Harry, illustrated by Amelie-Anne Calmo
Kayla’s all set to dance in the carnival – until disaster strikes and her costume is ruined. But with a little help from her friends and neighbours, the show goes on. Set to the rhythm of Caribbean music and colour, this joyful picture book celebrates community spirit, creativity and the energy of carnival. Inspired by Notting Hill, it also includes a short section on global carnival traditions, adding extra background to the fun visuals and bursts of storyline.
Bear’s Perfect Dance by Rachel Tilda Wolf
Bear loves to dance and practises whenever he can, but something feels missing. Dancing alone is fun, yet some moves really need two. As Bear searches for a partner, this lyrical story deftly explores how we experience friendship, confidence and sharing what you love. This charming picture book for 3+ year olds invites children to move, make up dances, try costumes and think about how great it feels to work together. It’s ideal to read and share in preschool and EYFS settings.
My First Ballet Book by Kate Castle
This accessible and well-written guide answers the questions 5–7 year old dancers actually ask, from what to wear to how arms and feet should look in class. It explains what happens in lessons and what to expect on stage, using photographs to show real positions and moments from training. Written by an experienced teacher, the book offers clear, practical advice to help children feel prepared, confident and comfortable as they begin ballet.
A Dancer’s Dream by Katherine Woodfine and Lizzy Stewart
In snowy St Petersburg, intrepid young dancer Stana is chosen to play Clara in a brand-new ballet by Tchaikovsky. As rehearsals begin, excitement mixes with nerves, and Stana hopes the performance might lift her unwell sister’s spirits. Based on real events, this highly illustrated story for 5+ year olds retells the first Nutcracker story, blending stage life, family care and the thrill of performing in a major production.
Luna Loves Dance by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers
Luna loves to dance, but her exam does not go as planned. With mistakes made and confidence shaken, she takes time to step away from the studio and rediscover why she dances in the first place. At home, at shows and at Carnival, her family cheer her on as she finds joy in movement again. This uplifting and inspirational picture book story for 3–6 year olds focuses on creativity, encouragement and the idea that dancing is about expression and enjoyment, not perfection.
Dogs Don’t Do Ballet by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie
Biff is a dog who would rather dance than chase sticks. He loves music, moonlight and ballet, and dreams of becoming a ballerina, even when others tell him dogs do not belong on stage. Ignoring his doubts, Biff follows what he loves. Told with warmth and humour, this picture book for 3–6 year olds focuses on being yourself and letting others do the same, supported by vibrant and expressive illustrations.
One Chance Dance by Efua Traore
When Jomi travels to Lagos to find his mum, his only companion is a bush baby. Together they meet a group of street kids and hatch a plan to get on TV. Will their one-chance dance idea work and will it help them find Jomi’s mum? Readers will find out in this compelling and rewarding read. Vibrant, uplifting and imaginative, One Chance Dance is perfect for KS2 children who enjoy immersive and adventure stories with relatable characters.
Born to Dance by Jean Ure
Maddy is a committed ballet student at boarding school and notices straight away when a new girl, Caitlyn, arrives. Maddy is convinced Caitlyn has a dance background, even though Caitlyn repeatedly denies it. The story, part of a trilogy for 9–12 year olds, follows Maddy’s determination to uncover the truth and the uneasy friendship that grows between them. Set in a world of dance classes and school routines, the plot revolves around ambition, training and the pressures young dancers face.
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil grow up together in London, raised by Sylvia and bound more by choice than blood. When money runs short, the girls turn to the stage and studio to keep their family afloat. Pauline leans towards acting, Posy lives for ballet, and Petrova dreams of engines rather than applause. This classic children’s novel for 7+ year olds is a powerful story of training, performance and hard work, grounded in an atmosphere of ambition, financial strain and fierce family loyalty.
Ballet by Viviana Durante
This sumptuously illustrated guide traces ballet from its beginnings at court to the way it is performed today. It covers more than seventy ballets in detail, including The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, and introduces key dancers, choreographers, composers and companies such as The Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi. Organised chronologically, the book uses immersive short profiles, immersive timelines and punchy production notes, supported by glossy photographs, making it a winning reference book for 10+ year olds or school libraries.
Bunheads by Sophie Flack
Nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward is a corps dancer with the Manhattan Ballet Company, living a life built around class, rehearsals and performances. Promotion feels just within reach, but the pressure is relentless. Food, bodies and hierarchy dominate the studio, while friendships and a new relationship pull her attention elsewhere. Drawing on Sophie Flack’s own experience, this powerful novel for 13+ year olds gives a clear, unsentimental view of what it takes to survive inside a ballet company.
Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Gigi, Bette and June train at an elite New York ballet academy where competition for lead roles is relentless. Perfection is expected, mistakes are punished and rivals will do whatever it takes to get ahead. As rehearsals intensify, the girls face discrimination, pressure and personal cost behind the polished performances. Set inside a highly competitive ballet world, this engrossing novel for 13+ year olds examines ambition, identity and the damage caused by toxic rivalry.
Girls of Dark Divine by E. V. Woods
Girls of Dark Divine follows Emberlyn, a ballet dancer cursed to live under the control of a Puppet Master. As she delves into the secrets of the curse, she risks everything to free herself and her sisters. Dark magic and tangled relationships set the stage for a story about freedom, control, and sacrifice. With its gothic vibes and the driving pressure of performance, it’s a distinctively spooky and suspenseful read that will keep 14+ year olds hooked. Highly recommended.
Jojo by Johannes Radebe
Johannes Radebe tells his own story, from growing up in Zamdela, South Africa, to finding success as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. He writes about discovering dance, his family life and the barriers he faced along the way. This compelling account, suitable for older teens, follows his setbacks as well as his breakthroughs, showing how dance gave him direction, confidence and a sense of self, shaped by resilience and acceptance.
A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
Harriet Morton is a gifted ballet student living under tight control in Cambridge in 1912. When she joins a touring ballet company heading for the Amazon, everything changes. On the road, Harriet discovers independence, friendship and the realities of life as a dancer. As her family attempts to reclaim her, she must decide what kind of future she wants. This heartfelt and powerful story for older teens blends ballet, travel and coming of age against a distinctive historical backdrop.
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Dance resources for teachers
- The Royal Opera House schools resources include curriculum-linked classroom materials and practical ideas for teaching movement, performance and stagecraft, plus teacher CPD.
- Create & Dance (Royal Opera House) provides structured activity resources designed for primary teaching, supported by training opportunities.
- One Dance UK – Dance in Schools shares support, guidance and sector updates from the UK subject association, aimed at helping schools deliver high-quality provision.
- One Dance UK – Representation in Dance Education (RIDE) is a free resource focused on inclusive, authentic content and finding relevant artists and organisations.
- Oak National Academy PE units include multiple movement units for KS1 and KS2 with downloadable slide decks, quizzes and lesson resources.
- Oak National Academy KS3 unit example shows the same approach for secondary – ready-made lessons with resources teachers can download and adapt.
- Rambert Classroom is a digital platform for GCSE, BTEC and A Level, with videos, written resources, audio guides and teacher CPD options.
- Rambert GCSE resource packs include detailed study materials (for example, contextual work, practical tasks and glossaries) linked to set works.
- English National Ballet – Schools & Colleges offers workshops, CPD, resources and theatre-visit links for teachers and students.
- BBC Children in Need – Strictly 25 Step Dance Challenge gives schools a ready-made routine, videos and supporting materials that work well for whole-school participation.
- BBC Teach (YouTube) – Street Dance Masterclass offers short, classroom-friendly videos suitable for KS2, useful for technique, style and confidence-building starters.
- Candoco – Student & teacher resource pack supports inclusive contemporary practice and youth participation, with practical ideas schools can build into lessons.
- New Adventures – The Red Shoes resource pack is aimed at KS4 and KS5 study, with contextual notes and tasks linked to choreographic and production processes.
- The Ofsted PE subject report (2023) is useful for curriculum conversations – it notes that in two-thirds of schools visited, dance was not taught to all pupils or was poorly organised.
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