Blog Tour: Dancergirl
Nov •
30 •
2011
Hello lovely readers! Today I have a great character interview Ali of Dancergirl!!!
“The videos went viral…
EVER FEEL LIKE SOMEONE’S WATCHING YOU?
ME TOO.
BUT LATELY IT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN MY ROOM.
WHEN I’M ALONE.
A friend posted a video of me dancing online, and now I’m no longer Alicia Ruffino. I’m dancergirl. And suddenly it’s like me against the world—everyone’s got opinions.
My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy—even he’s acting weird. And some stalker isn’t content to just watch anymore.
Ali. dancergirl. Whatever you know me as, however you’ve seen me online, I’ve trained my whole life to be the best dancer I can be. But if someone watching has their way, I could lose way more than just my love of dancing. I could lose my life.”
Ali, did you ever think your video of you dancing would be such a big hit?
Never! It was a complete surprise. I figured friends at our high school, (WiHi for short) might see the first one; maybe some kids in the other grades. I was totally shocked that it got so many views. My surprise kept growing as the next set of videos went crazy in terms of popularity around the country.
What did you have to change in your everyday life because of the viral video?
After the videos went viral, some creepy things started happening. I was totally paranoid that someone might be after me. I started hiding my hair in my hoodie. I didn’t want to dress any way that might call attention to me. I’d scurry home after rehearsals, my heart beating crazily, looking over my shoulder every few seconds to make sure no one was following. I stopped going places that were fun because I was so afraid. Even if I would be with my friends, I didn’t know who else might be there or what would happen.
Did the video change your view of dancing? Did it make you love or hate dancing?
It did make me change my view of dancing. I love it, I will always love it, but actually performing in front of audience became a nightmare. Everyone’s nervous right before they go onstage but I started getting the heebie-jeebies not knowing who was in the audience or who might videotape me without permission.
Did your friends change around you?
Yes! Different friends changed in various ways. Some of the dancers at the studio were jealous and got really mean about it. My WiHi friends who were making the videos got mad at me when I stopped doing them because they thought they could benefit from the popularity, too (like the director, Charlie, and my best friend Clarissa, who became the stylist for the videos because that’s what she wants to do when she graduates.). Some of my friends, though, rallied behind me. You really find out who is a true friend, and who is not, when something like that happens.
If your video never went online and you never became famous, would you still pursue dancing?
Yes! The truth is I would much prefer trying to make it as a dancer on my own merits; not because somebody shot a video that became famous. When you achieve something because you work hard and become really good at it (whatever it is), you know, deep down, that it’s a real accomplishment that no one can take away from you. It’s the best feeling in the world!
Thank you Ali for being here today!
About the Author:
Carol M. Tanzman’s performing arts career is eclectic. She was a dancing poppy in a production of the Wizard of Oz that toured to the Soviet Union, an abstract chicken in a New England mime company, and the assistant director for a play in Germany where her major responsibility was making sure the sheep entered and exited on cue. She’s directed regional and Off-Broadway productions of new plays, was the artistic director of a children’s theatre company in upstate NY and has been honored (twice!) by the Bravo Awards for her work with the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Her first YA novel, The Shadow Place, was on YALSA’s Quick Pick List of Recommended Books, the National Council of Teachers of English ALAN List of Best Books, and the CA Collection for Middle & Senior High Schools.
And now for the giveaway!
Carol and Harlequin are offering two give-aways for this tour!
The first give-away is copy of dancergirl. Enter by leaving a comment on this Tour Stop (and then confirm that you left a comment via Rafflecopter)
The second give-away is an iPod nano, skinned in the dancergirl artwork!
Simply enter via the Rafflecoper widget and get extra entries for tweeting (once per TourStop), following Carol on twitter,”Like” her on facebook, leaving your mailing address (for faster shipment of the prize) and for leaving a comment at each Tour Stops (one extra entry for each TourStop)
<a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”>You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
Dancergirl Blog Tour Schedule:
Monday, November 14th – The Unread Reader
Wednesday, November 16st – YA Liberian Tales
Friday, November 18rd – ChicaReader
Monday, November 21st – Musings of a Reader Happy
Wednesday, November 23th – Alice Marvels
Friday, November 25th – A Cupcake and A Latte
Monday, November 28th – Fire and Ice Reviews
Wednesday, November 30th – Books with Bite
Friday, December 2nd – Well Read Wife
Good Luck and Happy Reading!
10 Comments
Categories
Currently Reading
Spread the Bite…
That would be so creepy to suddenly become famous for a little video that ends up online. I feel bad for Rebecca Black, who got so much more than she bargained for (although she certainly profited as well). I’d hate to feel like people were always staring or following me. I’d hide too.
Thanks so much for the giveaway! this book sounds great! One because it has scandal 😉 2) because dancing …me=dancer, and 3 the story sounds great !
This really seems like a totally interesting book. This is the kind of book that’ll make you heart race. I feel like I’ll love it.
I find the “friend” angle very interesting. Glad that wasn’t skimped on!
The mix of personal safety, privacy, and internet usage have been issues of interest to me for a while, and I’m looking forward to reading Dancergirl because of that. I like that YA books tackle contemporary stuff in fun and interesting (and possibly spooky!) ways
This book sounds amazing! I can’t wait to be able to read it!
I used to be a dance major. Did ballet all my life. I completely understand the politics behind dance. The mean girls. The teachers. Everything. There really is a lot of drama involved.
My friends are dancers and hopefully I get lucky and win for them 🙂
That would freak me out if someone recording me doing anything and put it online. I’m not cordinated enough to do dancing, I would have broken my neck!
-Shellie
What a sweet title for a book. I really want to win this!