The Twelve Dancing Princesses aka The Worn Out Dancing Shoes

[Bookwyrme]

This fairy tale is another obsession of mine, but I've not been as fortunate with it as I have with Tam Lin. The only real retelling I've found so far has been Mckinley's. Oh, and Jeanette Winterson's profoundly strange Sexing the Cherry which is very surreal and postmodern.

So, does anyone else know of retellings? I mean besides the little illustrated kids books. I like those, sometimes, because the illustrations are grand, but they aren't really remaking the story.  

[tecche]

Oh jeez, I have read some good renditions of this tale, but they're just out of reach in my mind. Doh! ::smacks forehead::

I think all my encounters with the story have been short stories or picture books as well. It would be interesting if there were a novelization. I'd definitely read it.  

[NightIntent]

The only one I've seen was Robn McKinley's. I don't think it's a very popular fairy tale. People much prefer Snow White and Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. The well-known ones. I entirely forgot about The Worn Out Dancing Shoes until I read Robin McKinley's version of it, in late 2004. Then again, I don't remember half the fairy tales I've read.  

[Lady_Altheia]

I love the Twelve Dancing Princesses. It is one of my favorite fairy tales. I an currently reading Never After. That has references to a whole bunch of fairy tales. Mercedes Lackey writes fairy tale retellings like Gates of Sleep, The Serpent Shadow, and Fairy Godmother, and Phoenix and Ashes.  

[CrownPrincessLaya]

heart i love that book!  

[doodlebuggey88]

I'll definately have to check into those. That fairie tale was one of my favorites when I was little and still is to be truthful. I've heard that the Robin Mckinley version was good, but I haven't had a chance to read it myself.  

[Unwanted_and_Unloved]

I've only read one retelling of it. It's called *The night dance* but I can't for the life of me remember the autors name. *bashes head against keyboard* ;oaajnoaarjnkrjkaj'pog nope, still can't remember.  

[Tarantellatears]

There's a series of about nine books called 'The Once Upon a Time' series. They're not very big but each retells a different fairy tale, and I'm pretty sure the Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of them. Just check for the books on amazon, you should be able to find it no problem.  

[Bookwyrme]

Thanks! Now I have 2 new leads to follow smile  

[arugala]

there's a take-off on that- can't remember the title but!- it's about these twelve boys who go out dancing every day and come back with worn out sneakers. and finally this magical nanny comes and tracks them. so she finds out that they go out to this jazz hall and then she has to leave or something...i dunno. i just know that there were twleve boys who went out dancing and hey'd come come with worn out sneakers.  

[Espeonies132]

Hmm, I haven't heard of this story before. But I am totally interested in reading this in the internet. And the title's very interesting. I like the Twelve Dancing Princesses, it is so Barbie-like title.

 

[Espeonies132]

Okay so I have read the story. It was really fun and so good. The soldier was so wise and I am wondering, how can there be a castle underground?

 

[Persephone in Hell]

I'm afraid I've only read McKinley's Deerskin. Loved it, but it was so sad.

I'm partial to Tanith Lee's retellings, such as White as Snow, which is fairly bleak, though with a somewhat happy ending.  

[Maze353]

Jim Hines Princess Novels (The Stepsister Scheme, The Mermaid's Madness, Red Hood's Revenge, & The Snow Queen's Shadow) are pretty good.