Book Review: ‘Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette’ by Jennifer Jones

By Terri Schlichenmeyer   Step, step, kick.   Twirl, step, and kick again. Left, right, step. The choreography is all new to you, but you’ll get it eventually, no problem. You know what it takes to be a great dancer: getting enough rest, taking care of yourself, practice, and as in the new book “Becoming Spectacular” by Jennifer Jones, you’ll need all the perseverance you can muster.  Born in New Jersey in 1967, Jennifer Jones had a relatively happy childhood. The daughter of an interracial couple, her parents worked hard to give their three girls good lives, fun activities, safe neighborhoods in which to live, good schools, and a firm love of the arts.  As a youngster, Jones took twirling classes and tap lessons; she remembers seeing plays on Broadway and imaging she could be the next Stephanie Mills in The Wiz. Even though Jones was a child then, Mills’ iconic performance made it clear that there was a place for little Black girls on the Great White Way.   When Jones was a pre-teen, her mother paid for dance lessons and Jones found a mentor, Frank Hatchett, co-founder of the Broadway Dance Center. She also entered a pageant and got fourth runner-up,...