‘Illustrator to the stars’ puts young dancers through their paces

Orange County’s “illustrator to the stars,” Robin Preiss Glasser of “Fancy Nancy” fame, celebrates her first byline with “Gloria’s Promise,” the story of a young dancer pursuing big dreams.

Gloria’s story is largely Glasser’s story. Glasser was once a dance devotee who achieved her dream — blossoming into a soloist with the Pennsylvania Ballet — until injury forced her to hang up her slippers after 11 years. She always loved to draw, though, and found herself on full scholarship at the Parsons School of Design, which seems to have worked out well.

After illustrating sister Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman’s children’s book “You Can’t Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum,” Glasser went on to illustrate books for authors Jane O’Connor, Lynne Cheney, Garrison Keillor, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and Ann Patchett.

With “Gloria,” to be released by Penguin Random House on March 21, Glasser takes up the author’s pen with sister Weitzman to tell a story close to her heart, underscoring that achieving one’s dreams requires persistence and perseverance as well as passion.

Glasser’s love for dance, and dancers, remains intense. As a fundraiser for the Segerstrom Center’s American Ballet Theater Gillespie School, she drew 12 local dancers into the new book, raising $12,000 and delighting the now-immortalized subjects.

As she prepares to embark on a national tour promoting the new book, Glasser put dance students through the paces at Segerstrom Center on Saturday, March 11. ABT social media will create a video including clips from the session, set to the song “Gloria” from Sam Smith. The video will post on the book’s launch day, March 21.

“I want OUR kids to be part of it!” Glasser said. “And I want to give them books to take home and send me photos of themselves dancing in fun places. … I want to show that all kids with a passion to dance, dance everywhere!”

Local dancers can catch Glasser at the Newport Beach Library, 1000 Avocado Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on April 15. They can meet the author, hear her read from the new book, do some ballet exercises and a ballet-themed craft. Books will be available for purchase. Admission is free but registration is recommended at https://bit.ly/3Yzmn0v.

Source: Orange County Register