Yasmine Naghdi with Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Paula Franco

Author

Yasmine Naghdi is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London, one of the most acclaimed ballerinas of her generation, and now a children's book author. Born in London to an Iranian father and a British mother, she joined the Royal Ballet School at the age of eleven and rose through the ranks to become a principal dancer,... performing leading roles in classical and contemporary ballet. Her children's book Ballet Besties: Yara's Chance to Dance, written with Chitra Soundar and illustrated by Paula Franco, draws on her love of dance and her own experiences to tell the story of a young girl navigating the exciting, demanding world of ballet. The book celebrates friendship, determination, and the joy of dancing, making the world of ballet accessible and inspiring for young readers. Naghdi has performed many of the great classical ballet roles, including Juliet, Giselle, Aurora, and Odette/Odile, and has been praised for her extraordinary technique, musicality, and dramatic presence. She represents a new generation of ballet artists who are using their platforms to reach wider audiences beyond the opera house. Ballet Besties is available as both a book and an audiobook, with the audiobook edition bringing Yara's story to young listeners in an engaging format that captures the excitement of the dance world. Yasmine Naghdi's move into children's literature reflects her commitment to inspiring the next generation of dancers and arts lovers. Read more Show less