Extraordinary Life of Shirleyanne Ashcroft

The true story of a girl born just outside London, she was six years old when World War 2 broke out in Europe and grew up with air raid sirens, bomb shelters, shrapnel and evacuations. One of twelve children raised in a crowded, abusive household marked by brutality, strict rules and limited opportunities, where her dreams were dismissed as "nonsense," she clung to one unshakable passion: dance.

With remarkable determination, ingenuity and force of will, she turned professional at the age of eight. She created a new identity and carved a path into the world of entertainment. As a dancer and choreographer, she graced stages across Britain before finding herself swept into the vibrant life of the circus-first in Ireland and later in the United States-where she triumphantly claimed the creative freedom she had for so long strived.

Featuring over 30 rare and intimate photographs, this memoir captures the spirit of a woman who defied the limits of her upbringing-choosing instead to dance, tumble, ride and laugh her way through every twist life threw at her. The Extraordinary Life of Shirleyanne Ashcroft is a celebration of a life truly lived beyond the ordinary.

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