Something Spectacular is Gleissner's raw, personal chronicle of the devastating effects bulimia exacts upon her personal and professional life during her time as a Rockette. As her disorder takes over, she begins to lead a dual life: a talented, accomplished, and happy-go-lucky dancer on the outside; a food addict tortured by obsessive, self-destructive voices on the inside. Immersed in an environment in which even talent is secondary to appearance, Gleissner hides her disorder by any means necessary--lying, cheating, and stealing with no regard for the consequences to herself or her loved ones--until she hits rock bottom and is forced to face the truths behind her disease. Her intensive odyssey of self-discovery ultimately gives her the strength to reshape her self-image, embrace her sexuality, and break free of the malignant hold bulimia has on her life.

The first book to give a voice to the pervasive but often unaddressed problem of eating disorders in the dance industry, Something Spectacular is a gripping expos of the insidious nature of eating-related diseases--and a profound account of one woman's journey toward self-acceptance and recovery.