Mark Dendy is well known for his physically daring and energetic dances exploring such themes as gender, religion and other critical social issues. In this piece, which includes excerpts from his most well-known dances, Mr. Dendy, recipient of three consecutive NEA Fellowships, talks about what has shaped his life and influenced his work.

Goldie is a star in the eyes of her little sisters Sherrie and Supreme. The rest of the world is bound to take note soon too. Her big break surely awaits, she's just got to pick up that golden fur coat she's had her eye on first. And land a role as a dancer in a hip-hop video. And keep child welfare services from separating her from Sherrie and Supreme, after their mother is locked up. Holding onto those dreams isn't easy when fate has placed such...

"Maverick sleuth Declan Miller is back at work following the murder of his wife (and amateur ballroom dancing partner), Alex. Working with new partner and heavy metal enthusiast DS Sara Xiu, he is tasked with investigating the double killing of gangland family scion Adrian Cutler and IT consultant Barry Shepherd at the Sands Hotel. Initial evidence suggests a hired gun and a botched job. The search for the hitman begins and Miller begins to reconnect...

After Avery's storybook Christmas wedding is canceled, a dance instructor helps her face her fears in life and fulfill her dream of learning to dance.

Eleven-year-old miner's son Billy Elliot is on his way to boxing lessons when he stumbles upon a ballet class. Billy secretly joins the class, knowing that his blue-collar family would never understand.

"Simple text and photographs present ballet dancing, including simple steps"--Provided by publisher.

When JoJo can't hide her sparkle and gets kicked off the dance team, which is led by a new drill-sergeant instructor, she forms a new team and they create a routine for the State Dance Competition.

"Marlinchen and her two sisters live with their wizard father in a city shifting from magic to industry. As Oblya's last true witches, she and her sisters are little more than a tourist trap as they treat their clients with archaic remedies and beguile them with nostalgic charm. Marlinchen spends her days divining secrets in exchange for rubles and trying to placate her tyrannical, xenophobic father, who keeps his daughters sequestered from the outside...

"Billy Walker is a North Carolina boy whose Hollywood star is beginning to shine. His rough past is in the rearview. Now seeing the world from the back seat of a limousine, Billy has no regrets about what he had to do, and the choices he made, to get there. But all it takes is one death-defying moment for Billy's world to shift. When an on-set accident leaves him shaken and plagued by haunting dreams, he's in desperate need of a rest cure. Given keys...

""A writer to watch!"--Angela Knight, New York Times bestselling author Left without a partner... When former ballroom champion Melina Cherkasov found out that her famous husband was cheating, she was devastated, especially since she was informed by a sleazy reporter on national TV. Thanks to an ironclad prenup and a scumbag ex, Melina has to pack up her dog and her dignity and take refuge in her dad's retirement community in New Jersey. ...it's time...