When Joan is orphaned and sent to live with her relatives, the Garlands, in London, she is at first completely overwhelmed. Her aunt is a famous prima ballerina, her uncle a gifted composer, and her cousins all study dance and plan to go on the stage eventually. Joan is miserable, lonely, and feels lacking in any sort of talent. Against her will she is drawn into their ballet world... until she finally discovers that she does in fact have a gift of her own.