5.0 out of 5 stars Missing Steps - in Dance, in Life: A Compelling Story of Heroic Survival, February 12, 2008
By  Carolyn K. Long "Pratt Publishing, Inc." (Columbia, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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From early childhood, protagonist Kory Vanon is a keen witness to the polarities of his life. As he sits between his mother and brother listening to his Grandfather's sermon in the John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, he compares "his little brown hands to the gigantic milky white arms of the Son of God, whose sterile embrace he never envisioned could absorb and forgive all the sins he intended to commit."

Though he grows up in a church parsonage surrounded by faith, Kory suffers so great a tragedy at such a young age that it irredeemably shatters his faith, leaving him with the conviction that he is truly alone in the world. Determined to rely only on himself, he develops extraordinary insight and inner strength, which--combined with his great loves--dance, his son, and life itself--ultimately enable him to survive epic misfortunes--and his own recklessness.

This heavily autobiographical novel vividly captures the tone and tenor of life in Washington during the `60s and `70s from the perspective of a brilliant and talented, introspective and adventurous modern-day hero, who--like the author--lives for 30 years before he is accurately diagnosed with one of the most insidious of modern-day illnesses, MS--the death knell to his budding career as a professional dancer.

Van Nixon's Missing Steps is a powerful, well-written, page-turner with layer upon layer of depth of meaning. The book has all the elements of a great read: good fast-paced writing, well-developed characters who evoke pathos, engrossing dialogue, historical perspective and relevance, excitement, romance and tragedy, all interwoven with the arts and politics, culture, counter-culture and racism of the times and the amazing ability of the protagonist to prevail against incredible odds to remake himself again and again as he suffers great losses, overcomes addictions, and battles his two greatest demons: his MS and the dark shadow of an existential loneliness devoid of faith.

His hero's facility and courage in coping with extraordinary life challenges of both a physical and emotional nature create a story that will bring hope and courage to many. The story of Kory Vanon, much like the story of York Van Nixon III, is a moving story of heroic survival.

Author York Van Nixon, III, has had an amazingly privileged, adventurous, challenging and accomplished life. The grandson of legendary civil rights leader Bishop Stephen Gill Spotswood of Washington, DC, he grew up in the City during the most tumultuous period of the civil rights movement, earned a BA & MA in psychology and a minor in dance from Howard University, and fulfilled his greatest passion to became a professional dancer. He spent years studying dance at the National Ballet and the Washington Ballet; was offered a scholarship to study and ultimately invited to join the Capitol Ballet Company at a time when there were few professional black dancers, and had his own dance troupe before MS forced him to reinvent himself--again and again, as it gradually stole more and more of his mobility, but never his freedom, independence or indomitable spirit.

An articulate communicator, talented writer and successful businessman, York Van Nixon, III, is dedicated to helping others with MS. His website disseminates the latest information about MS and serves as a beacon of hope: "Although MS may sometimes slow us down, the spirit which propels us forward everyday runs circles around the speed of light." http://www.yorkvannixoniii.com