The Swans of Harlem

Karen introduces readers to important figures of our past, while inspiring us to courageously chase our dreams. This is the kind of history I wish I learned as a child dreaming of the stage! -- Misty Copeland, New York Times bestselling author of Black Ballerinas: My Journey To Our Legacy Until Valby's utterly absorbing, flawlessly-researched book, I never knew the story of the original Dance Theater of Harlem ballerinas-and now, I demand that their lives be taught in schools! Valby finally sheds light on these towering dance pioneers, all of whom triumphed as dancers in a world that didn't believe Black people had a place in the classical art form. Vibrant, 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 Seven Days in June Karen Valby weaves their stories together as a choreographer would: the women form an ensemble, yet each gets her own riveting solo. It's thrilling to watch as they join forces at last and claim their unique place in American ballet's past, present and future -- Margo Jefferson, author of Constructing a Nervous System Valby introduces and celebrates the extraordinary lives and careers of ballerinas Lydia Abarca-Mitchell, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton-Benjamin and Marcia Sells . . Swans burns with the dancers' distinct sense of urgency and purpose . . . Valby provides an absorbing glimpse into this world through vivid details of the women's lives as artists, wives, mothers, friends and Black women. More than a chronicle of dance history, the book is a testament to the enduring power of sisterhood and female friendships, especially in the face of discrimination and exclusion . . . The book also works to set the record straight, ensuring the women take their rightful place in history * Ms. Magazine * A loving tribute * Smithsonian Magazine * Five of the world's greatest dancers helped change the face of ballet--they performed at the White House, they appeared on Broadway, they were on the covers of magazines . . . This insightful history from Karen Valby tells the stories of Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton, and Marcia Sells, celebrating the contributions they made to their art form and giving them the recognition they so greatly deserve * Town and Country Magazine * Valby's group biography of five Black ballerinas who forever transformed the art form at the height of the Civil Rights movement uncovers the rich and hidden history of Black ballet, spotlighting the trailblazers who paved the way for the Misty Copelands of the world * The Millions * A vibrant and captivating look at five trailblazing women * Arlington Magazine * For those who love Hidden Figures and are interested in dance and culture . . . 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 * Texas Lifestyle Magazine * Vibrant . . . A captivating corrective to an often-whitewashed history * Publishers Weekly, starred review * A skilled storyteller with an eye for significant details and thematic complexity . . . [A] dynamic, tumultuous, and inspiring journey of the five central ballerinas, the book is deeply researched and full of heart. A rich, detailed, and complex history of Harlem's first prima ballerinas * Kirkus * Engaging and insightful . . . A powerful narrative of professional triumphs and personal challenges that celebrates Black excellence in ballet. Anyone who appreciates dance will be enriched and inspired by the stories of these five intrepid dancers * Booklist * There is joy in the way the women discuss their decades-long friendships and trailblazi

Karen Valby is a writer living in Austin, Texas. Her work has appeared in Vanity Fair, where she is a frequent contributor, the New York Times, O Magazine, Glamour, Fast Company, and EW, where she spent fifteen years writing about culture.