'Behind the Red Velvet Curtain'

'Behind the Red Velvet Curtain'

Update: 2025-06-27
Share

Description

Joy Womack made history when she became the first American to join Russia’s famed Bolshoi Ballet Theater. But getting there was a journey that took a grueling physical and emotional toll.


Her new memoir, “Behind the Velvet Red Curtain,” written with MPR News journalist Elizabeth Shockman, is an intimate retelling of what happened when Womack moved to Moscow at age 15 to train under Russian greats and immersed herself in ruthless competition, obsessive training and tenacity in the face of challenge.


She talks about what it took to be an American ballerina in Russia with Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas.


Guest:




Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsRSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.


Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

'Behind the Red Velvet Curtain'

'Behind the Red Velvet Curtain'

Minnesota Public Radio