Melanie Hamrick may have retired from the world of professional ballet, but the former ballerina is putting her skills to good use in her new book and her collaborations with partner Mick Jagger . “I’ve always loved reading and writing and the few university courses I could fit into my schedule while I was dancing were focused on writing,” Hamrick, 37, told Us Weekly exclusively while promoting The Unraveling , the follow-up to her debut novel, First Position . “It felt like a natural step, and with a little encouragement from my family, I was able to pursue it.
” Hamrick retired from dance in 2019 after 15 years with the American Ballet Theatre, and she has used her experience as a ballerina — both in front of audiences and backstage — to write her two fiction books, which are both set in the world of professional ballet. Hamrick also utilizes her dance background to choreograph, including previously working on a Rolling Stones-themed rock ballet with Jagger, 81. “It was nice to have his expertise,” Hamrick told Us of working with her partner of 10 years, with whom she shares son Deveraux, 7.
“It was cool to share [because] there’s different ways to count music from his side [as a musician] and my side as a dancer.” While she enjoyed working with Jagger on the unique show — which premiered in the United States in 2019 — Hamrick advises against working professionally with romantic partners long-term. “I don’t necessarily think partners should wo.