Editorial review
Dancing with Diana: A Memoir
By Anne Allan
The challenges Princess Diana faced in her all-too-short life are well-documented, but she also had moments of intense happiness. Many of these were shared with her friend and dance teacher, Anne Allan, who opens up abou...
Reviewed by CANREADS
The challenges Princess Diana faced in her all-too-short life are well-documented, but she also had moments of intense happiness. Many of these were shared with her friend and dance teacher, Anne Allan, who opens up about her relationship with the royal in her captivating memoir.
In Dancing with Diana, Allan paints an intimate portrait of a fun-loving young woman who found a unique freedom from her all-encompassing royal role by expressing herself through dance. The duo met for regular sessions at a private studio, over the course of nine years, and immediately formed a special bond. Soon, engaging in different types of dance was just one part of their near-weekly ritual. They also enjoyed many hours of candid, post-lesson chats, lying on the studio floor, sharing their lives, and trading advice.
As she recounts some of her favourite memories, which include learning about both of Diana’s pregnancies before the public, watching the announcement of the engagement of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at Kensington Palace with Diana, and helping her pull off her unforgettable 1985 “Uptown Girl” performance at the Royal Opera House, Allan gives readers the chance to feel like they, too, are a friend of Diana’s. Taking readers inside exciting events, like holiday parties at the palace, she shares snippets from lunches and dinners with the princess and even includes excerpts from some of her private notes, which showcase Diana’s personality and sense of humour through her penmanship, tone of voice, and hand-drawn emojis.
Alongside her anecdotes, Allan also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of theatre and dance, detailing her experiences with shows like Phantom of the Opera, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Ragtime.
Readers will find it a treat to discover new stories about Princess Diana and get a glimpse of who she truly was when she let her hair down. Through her dance teacher, Anne Allan, Dancing with Diana offers a firsthand account of the princess at her most candid and free, filled with fun, laughter, and a little mischief. Though the writing is simplistic and intimate details are kept to a minimum, the short chapters, casual tone, and captivating subject make this book a must-read for any royal fan—while also correcting a few things The Crown got wrong!
—CANREADS TORONTO BOOK REVIEW