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The Swans of Harlem
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
9 posts | 3 read | 1 reading | 8 to read
A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK The forgotten story of a pioneering group of five Black ballerinas and their fifty-year sisterhood, a legacy erased from historyuntil now. This is the kind of history I wish I learned as a child dreaming of the stage! Misty Copeland, author of Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy Utterly absorbing, flawlessly-researchedVibrant, propulsive, and inspiring, The Swans of Harlem is a richly drawn portrait of five courageous women whose contributions have been silenced for too long! Tia Williams, author of A Love Song for Ricki Wilde At the height of the Civil Rights movement, Lydia Abarca was a Black prima ballerina with a major international dance companythe Dance Theatre of Harlem, a troupe of women and men who became each others chosen family. She was the first Black company ballerina on the cover of Dance magazine, an Essence cover star; she was cast in The Wiz and in a Bob Fosse production on Broadway. She performed in some of ballets most iconic works with other trailblazing ballerinas, including the young women who became her closest friendsfounding Dance Theatre of Harlem members Gayle McKinney-Griffith and Sheila Rohan, as well as first-generation dancers Karlya Shelton and Marcia Sells. These Swans of Harlem performed for the Queen of England, Mick Jagger, and Stevie Wonder, on the same bill as Josephine Baker, at the White House, and beyond. But decades later there was almost no record of their groundbreaking history to be found. Out of a sisterhood that had grown even deeper with the years, these Swans joined forces againto share their story with the world. Captivating, rich in vivid detail and character, and steeped in the glamour and grit of professional ballet, The Swans of Harlem is a riveting account of five extraordinarily accomplished women, a celebration of both their historic careers and the sustaining, grounding power of female friendship, and a window into the robust history of Black ballet, hidden for too long.
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Amor4Libros
Amor4Libros
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
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Pickpick

I love ballet. It is one of my favorite art forms, but I admit that as a Black Latina, I never looked for representation, even though I imagined it was there somewhere.

I‘m so glad this book exists, I cried many times reading about the stories of these 5 wonderful dancers and the legacy of the Dance Theater of Harlem.

Read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

48 likes
review
OutsmartYourShelf
OutsmartYourShelf
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
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Pickpick

Harlem 1969 & the first Black principal dancer at the New York City Ballet sets up the Dance Theatre of Harlem, establishing the first all-Black ballet company. This book is about the lives of Mitchell & five of his female dancers who were at the forefront of making ballet more accessible to Black dancers, & how & why their careers, popularity, & influence have been so easily forgotten. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf I thought this was a really interesting read & I'd never heard about any of the people featured. Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton, & Marcia Sells graced the covers of magazines, partied with Mick Jagger, & danced the main roles in classical ballets - yet their achievements have been almost airbrushed out of history. 7mo
OutsmartYourShelf An informative read, the book also didn't shy away from showing that Mitchell had his flaws; his preference for lighter-skinned dancers & his strict adherence to body size with his bullying of the dancers he deemed 'overweight'. This is the story of women who persevered against all odds & succeeded, only to see their contributions ultimately overlooked. I hope this book goes some way to rectifying that. 4.5🌟

 7mo
OutsmartYourShelf TWs: abortion, body image issues, eating disorders, racism, bullying.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6737109373
Read 7th - 12th Aug 2024

#ReadAway2024 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES 7mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳Great! 7mo
23 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Amor4Libros
Amor4Libros
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
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Felt like I needed to throw in a non-fiction book to the mix of books I‘m reading at the moment.

This one looks so interesting!

41 likes2 stack adds
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Deblovestoread
Deblovestoread
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
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My only nonfiction book of the month but it was a good one.

45 likes
blurb
Deblovestoread
Deblovestoread
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
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Best of the week is the tagged book.

#WeeklyFavorites

@Read4life

Read4life 🤓🤓🤓 9mo
55 likes1 comment
review
Deblovestoread
Deblovestoread
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
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Pickpick

The history of the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the founding ballerinas is important to see the determination of young black girls striving to fulfill their dreams. Making their dreams a reality and forming a life long sisterhood under the tutelage of Arthur Mitchell is art history that needed to be told. Thanks to the author & The Swans for sharing their story. Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this fascinating book.

65 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Deblovestoread
Deblovestoread
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
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#WeekendReads

50% left of Swans. I know very little about ballet but am enjoying this story of the building of The Dance Theatre of Harlem and the ballerina‘s who found a home there. Just got approved for Red Side on audio. Read Shades of Grey years ago and am looking forward to its sequel. Started a buddy read of the Follett with my daughter. We plan to read the series.

@rachelsbrittain

55 likes
blurb
kspenmoll
kspenmoll
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History | Karen Valby
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My suggestions for #CampLitsy24
—The Cemetery of untold Stories because I enjoyed her previous books & the whole concept of the book fascinates me.
— The Swans of Harlem- to learn more about the lives of these special women- intrigues me
— There‘s Always This Year- on Basketball and Ascension — I love basketball - on basketball & storytelling
— The Hunter - Tana French‘s novels/thrillers are engaging, at times disturbing, unique characters

tagged users iconMegabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB
monalyisha I‘m excited about Cemetery! 11mo
Ruthiella I‘m definitely going to read the Tana French, but first I need to read
[tagged book]The Searcher
11mo
squirrelbrain Great choices - thanks for nominating! 11mo
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB I want to read all four of these! 11mo
Caroline2 Oh Swans sounds sooo good! 👍 11mo
TrishB Swans was on my long list! 11mo
Megabooks I love basketball, too! Great choices! 11mo
63 likes7 comments