By: Matthew Kayser
Ballet has long enchanted audiences with its grace and grandeur, but the stories behind the steps haven’t always aged gracefully. Too often, the heroines fall, fade, or get rescued by a prince. For Author and Publisher Terrel of Once Upon a Dance, that just won’t do.
Teaming up with her daughter, professional dancer Ballerina Konora, Terrel has created a collection of 43 interactive storybooks that reimagine the world of dance through movement, magic, and meaningful storytelling. Their whimsical tales feature cats, unicorns, dragons, and bunnies, but beneath the sparkle lies a powerful mission: to reshape the narrative for young readers, especially girls, and inspire a deeper connection to self, story, and stage.
The Books She Wished She Had
Born from a pandemic pivot, Once Upon a Dance grew out of Terrel’s decades of experience teaching dance, early childhood education, and arts instruction. Her dream was to create something she wished she’d had as both a young dancer and a mother: books that nurtured joy, movement, and emotional wellness, while also gently introducing ballet technique.
With titles that invite leaping cats and twirling unicorns, the books are as playful as they are purposeful. Each one is infused with affirming themes such as perseverance, self-acceptance, and the importance of helping others. The stories are told through engaging character arcs and are designed to get readers up and moving, bringing dance off the stage and into the living room.
As Peter Boal, Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet, put it: “This whimsical tale of discovery is so full of joy and wonder. It also opens a door to dance in the most charming and accessible way.”
Photo Courtesy: Terrel Konora / Ballerina Konora
Rewriting Ballet’s Fairy Tales
What began as a creative outlet soon became something more: a quiet revolution in storytelling. Terrel, a Pacific Northwest Ballet board member, began to reflect on the stories she’d watched from the audience through a new lens. Why were so many classical ballets centered around tragedy, broken hearts, or damsels in distress?
The answer, she believes, lies in who’s telling the stories. While women dominate ballet as performers and audiences, the traditional fairy tales and choreography have often been written by men. Through Once Upon a Dance, Terrel is offering an alternative: empowering, emotionally rich stories where girls are strong, choices matter, and movement becomes a medium for growth.
She calls it “storybook activism.” By questioning what stories are being told, and how, Terrel hopes to inspire a shift not just in children’s literature, but in the culture of dance itself.
A Charitable Leap
Unlike many commercial book ventures, Once Upon a Dance is rooted in generosity. Every book is tied to a charity partner, and 100% of royalties through the end of this decade are donated to causes that support animals, dance organizations, people in need, and the planet.
It’s a mission that blends Terrel’s values with her craft. As she puts it, movement and connection are vital, not just for physical wellness, but for building empathy in a fractured world. In that sense, the books serve as more than bedtime stories or dance lessons; they’re tools for healing, connection, and kindness.
And readers have taken notice. Once Upon a Dance has earned 14 first-place book awards, 60 total literary honors, and over 3,000 five-star reviews. It was also recently named “Best in Show” at the 2025 Writely Literary Awards and received a coveted Kirkus Starred Review.
One review sums it up best: “This amazing book … is nothing short of splendid.” —Readers’ Favorite
Photo Courtesy: Terrel Konora / Ballerina Konora
Movement as an Antidote
In an age where screens dominate and isolation is rising, Once Upon a Dance offers a joyful remedy. These stories invite kids to get up, move, imagine, and engage with themselves and those around them. They bring back the magic of creative play, but with deeper layers of meaning that stay long after the last plié.
From the earliest titles to the upcoming release Bellyrina: A Tutu Tail from the Belly of the Beast, the Once Upon a Dance library celebrates resilience, joy, and imagination. It’s not just about perfect posture or technical precision; it’s about showing up, trying again, and twirling your way through challenges.
As unicorns twirl and cats leap, Terrel and Ballerina Konora continue to craft new tales for a new generation that value empowerment, expression, and empathy above all.
