What You Become in Flight: A Memoir

After a devastating misstep by her dance partner, Ellen's life is unalterably changed. Recovered but no longer able to dance, she embarks on a self-discovery of life outside of ballet while coming to terms with her past. She describes how her grandmother and cousin - both dancers - inspired her to take up ballet, how she developed eating disorders in order to retain the ideal body of a ballerina, and how a sexual assault nearly derailed her recovery. By telling not just her own story, but the lives of other dancers who have been forced to leave the stage, Ellen uses her newfound vocation of writing to reflect on survival, happiness, and trust.