Dancing on my Grave

As Gelsey Kirkland continues to describe her perfectionist ballet personality, she reveals the horrible situations that she had to endure as a ballerina. Krikland was involved in doing illicit drugs, participated in the dancers' strike in 1979, and had a bad relationship with the management of the American Ballet Theatre. But, Kirkland describes all of her mistakes to be due to the fact that she was a pure perfectionist, and wanted to be an excellent ballerina, even though she already was.
As Kirkland moved on to dance with the American Ballet Theatre, she became romantically involved with a younger dancer, who was also her partner. Patrick Bissell, introduced Kirkland to cocaine. They came together because of their addiction to drugs. It was their common denominator. The two dancers were ruining their bodies together as well as their careers. Patrick came close to even committing suicide by a close over dose of drugs. The relationship consisted mostly of dancing, sex, and drugs. The two were eventually fired by the ABT, but then rehired for their change in behavior.
After years of dancing with ABT, Kirkland quit and married Greg Lawrence. The two moved to England so Kirkland could dance with the Royal Ballet. After a severe hairline fracture, Kirkland had to sit out a few of her pieces with the Royal Ballet.
But, after many injuries, drug addictions, and all the damage done to her body, Kirkland kept pushing through. She had a plain determination of heart.