Tomboy Ballerina

Roni Mahler is not your average ballerina. While her formative years were partially spent in a ballet studio under the tutelage of Mademe Maria Yurieva Swoboda, she also frequented Yankee Stadium, where she cheered for her idol, Mickey Mantle. At eighteen, Mahler joined the corps de ballet of the renowned Ballet Russo de Monte Carlo for its final two years before its disbanding in 1962. Afterwards, Mahler was scouted to be a soloist for the National Ballet of Washington, D.C., where she ascended to the rank of Principal Dancer under the guidance of George Balanchine, founder of NYCB. In 1969 she returned to New York City as a soloist with the American Ballet Theatre, where she continued her legacy in principal roles like the high-flying Queen of the Wilis in Giselle. 
While Mahler experienced success in her performance career, it was her groundbreaking approach to cross-training that truly set her apart. Her idea to teach ballet to football players led to her role as Artistic Associate of Cleveland Ballet/Ballet San Jose, where she dedicated over three decades to teaching, coaching, and performing. In addition to working with football players, Mahler taught at dance conventions and schools around the world. Written in collaboration with a lifelong friend, her memoir provides an intimate account of her journey from the baseball diamond to the ballet stage and beyond. 

Roni Mahler began her performing career with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and went on to perform principal roles with the National Ballet of Washington (D.C.) and American Ballet Theatre. Roni was the Artistic Associate of Cleveland Ballet/Ballet San Jose, where she taught, coached, and performed for over three decades before moving to San Francisco. She continues to teach across the U.S. and abroad.
Caroline O’Connor is an author and screenwriter who loves dancing and writing about ballet. She lives in New York City.

Roni Mahler with Caroline O’Connor
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 50 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9589-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5453-9
Imprint: McFarland

• “Through the years I have heard from countless Mickey Mantle fans from virtually every walk of life. But until now, never a ballerina. Roni Mahler’s memoir is written with the same grace she brought to the stage and includes fond memories of the grace the young Mantle brought to center field at her beloved Yankee Stadium.”—Bob Costas

• “Roni Mahler’s dance talent and feisty resilience shine in this charming account of her wide-eyed career among ballet luminaries. Thank goodness Mahler’s mother took her not only to Little League but to ballet class! This book is a charming romp through the life of a gifted, observant dancer (and baseball fanatic) who learned from the best. It’s as fun as a day at Yankee Stadium.”—Rachel Howard, dance correspondent, San Francisco Chronicle

• “Tomboy Ballerina is a stirring memoir that weaves the extraordinary journey of Roni Mahler from a wide-eyed child with dreams of becoming a ballerina to a revered figure in the world of ballet. …the narrative is a tapestry of memories that celebrate the fusion of ballet with the unexpected passion for baseball. Reflecting on her journey, Mahler contemplates the blend of talent, temper, and tenacity that connected her to her early childhood heroes, and how these traits fueled her dual passions. From her beginnings as a precocious child declaring her dreams, through the pain and triumphs of a demanding career, to finding fulfillment in teaching ballet to NFL players, Mahler’s life story is a testament to following one’s passion against all odds.”—Dennis Nahat, former ABT Principal Dancer and founder of Cleveland Ballet/Ballet San Jose