african american ballerinas

"The forgotten story of a pioneering group of five Black ballerinas, the first principals in the Dance Theatre of Harlem, who traveled the world as highly celebrated stars in their field and whose legacy was erased from history until now. At the height of the Civil Rights movement, Lydia Abarca was a Black prima ballerina with a major international dance company-the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She was the first Black ballerina on the cover of Dance magazine, an Essence cover star, cast in The Wiz and on Broadway with Bob Fosse. She performed in some of ballet's most iconic works with her closest friends-founding members of the company, the Swans of Harlem, Gayle McKinney, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells, and Karlya Shelton-for the Queen of England and Mick Jagger, with Josephine Baker, at the White House, and beyond. Some forty years later, when Lydia's granddaughter wanted to show her own ballet class evidence of her grandmother's success, she found almost none, but for some yellowing photographs and programs in the family basement. Lydia had struggled for years to reckon with the erasure of her success, as all the Swans had. Still united as sisters in the present, they decided it was time to share their story themselves. Captivating, rich in vivid detail and character, and steeped in the glamor and grit of professional ballet, The Swans of Harlem is a riveting account of five extraordinarily accomplished women, a celebration of their historic careers, and a window into the robust history of Black ballet, hidden for too long"--Provided by publisher.

"Photographic book for kids ages 4-8 that empowers all children to express their true selves through movement and celebrate who they are while shining a light on dancers who have been underrepresented for too long"--Provided by publisher.

"'Ready to Fly' is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV"--Provided by publisher.

"Misty Copeland is the first Black female principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. Before she made history and became a symbol of change in the world of ballet, she was a determined girl who loved watching gymnastics and dancing on the drill team. She worked hard and overcame many obstacles to fulfill her dream of becoming a great ballerina. This book helps kids explore how Misty went from being a shy young girl growing up in California to a world-famous ballet dancer and a role model to many people"--Back cover.

This true story of the first Black girl to play Marie in the New York City Ballet's version of The Nutcracker follows Charlotte Nebres, who loves dancing as much as Christmas, as she practices long hours and finds the strength to keep going with the help of her Trinidadian and Filipino families.

"Tells the story of two unapologetically Black ballerinas, their friendship, and how they changed each other--and the dance world--forever. Misty Copeland shares her own struggles with racism and exclusion in her pursuit of this dream career and honors the women like Raven Wilkinson who paved the way for her but whose contributions have gone unheralded. She celebrates the connection she made with Raven, the only teacher who could truly understand the obstacles she faced, beyond the technical or artistic demands"--Provided by publisher.

Misty Copeland jumped and twirled her way to the top. But the American Ballet Theatre's first female African American principal dancer didn't start her ballet journey until the late age of 13. Find out how more about Misty's journey from a challenging childhood to life under the spotlight as a groundbreaking dancer.

"From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland comes a nonfiction picture book celebrating dancers of color who have influenced her on and off the stage. As a young girl living in a motel with her mother and her five siblings, Misty Copeland didn't have a lot of exposure to ballet or prominent dancers. She was sixteen when she saw a Black ballerina on a magazine cover for the first time. The experience emboldened Misty and told her that she wasn't alone--and her dream wasn't impossible. In the years since, Misty has only learned more about the trailblazing women who made her own success possible by pushing back against repression and racism with their talent and tenacity. Misty brings these women's stories to a new generation of readers and gives them the recognition they deserve. With an introduction from Misty about the legacy these women have had on dance and on her career itself, this book delves into the lives and careers of women of color who fundamentally changed the landscape of American ballet from the early twentieth century to today"-- Provided by publisher.

"This book examines the life of Misty Copeland in a simple, age-appropriate way that will help children develop word recognition and reading skills"--Provided by publisher.

"'Ready to Fly' is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV"--Provided by publisher.