Joy Womack made history when she became the first American to join Russia’s famed Bolshoi Ballet Theater. But getting there was a journey that took a grueling physical and emotional toll.

Her new memoir, “Behind the Velvet Red Curtain,” written with MPR News journalist Elizabeth Shockman, is an intimate retelling of what happened when Womack moved to Moscow at age 15 to train under Russian greats and immersed herself in ruthless competition, obsessive training and tenacity in the face of challenge.

She talks about what it took to be an American ballerina in Russia with Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas.

Guest:

• Joy Womack is a ballet dancer and choreographer, currently based in Paris. Her new memoir, as told to Elizabeth Shockman, is “Behind The Red Velvet Curtain.”

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