On today's episode of Balancing Pointe Podcast the Host, Kimberly Falker is in the HOT seat! Melissa Klapper is the host and asks Kimberly all of the questions you may not know. On this episode she is not uncovering Ballet, but uncovering HER journey in life, in podcasting and in her struggles as a mother of an aspiring ballerina.
Melissa Klapper is a History professor at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey and asked Kimberly to provide her some information as research for the book she is in the process of researching and writing, Ballet Class: An American History which is a scholarly book that will explore the twentieth-century growth of ballet class as a central part of American childhood. Melissa is currently on sabbatical and is devoting herself full time to the research and completion of this book. This will me Dr. Klapper's fourth scholarly book but her first book focusing on Ballet.
Melissa's other books are; Small Strangers: The Experiences of Immigrant Children in America, 1880-1925 (American Childhoods Series), Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America, 1860-1920 and Ballots, Babies, and Banners of Peace: American Jewish Women's Activism, 1890-1940.
Dr. Klapper reached out to Kimberly to interview her as research for her book. From this they came up with the idea to record the interview and use it as its own episode on Balancing Pointe Podcast. As you will hear, Kimberly provides a detailed history into her life and experiences as well as providing authentic thoughts on the hardships, frustrations and confusion she feels raising a daughter who is pursuing a life in Ballet.
