Product Description
The stories of six daring, groundbreaking Black ballet dancers leap off the pages of this beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book. Meet Essie Marie Dorsey, who in 1926 opened one of the first ballet schools for Black students; Arthur Mitchell, the first Black dancer with the New York City Ballet; Christian Holder, a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet; choreographer Dwight Rhoden; and present-day ballerinas Misty Copeland and Michaela DePrince. With a leap of faith and a love of dance, these Black Swans overcame obstacles and opened doors for all the children who dream of dancing.
From School Library Journal
Gr 1-4-From the front cover alone, this title conveys a warmth and variety of styles, showcasing everything from traditional ballet to contemporary dance, and that "swans" is a gender-inclusive term. Inside, the respect continues. Six dancers whose lives span the dance world of the last century and this one are introduced with brief histories. The pattern for each dancer, from Arthur Mitchell to Misty Copeland, is carefully chosen and retold. Each one experiences a rejection of their talents, breakthroughs in the dance world, and an impressive exhibition of perseverance when they not only succeed but work to make their field more inclusive. The highlighted stories end with the refrain that they continued to dance or are dancing, lending a tone of resilience against trials. Every page of this book resonates with love and admiration for dance. Back matter includes a list of other dancers, notes about the author and illustrator, and the inspirations for the book. The dancers' athleticism and gorgeous costuming in the illustrations will make even casual readers want to leap to their feet and move. VERDICT A must for every collection, and a cornerstone for the dance shelves.-Cat McCarreyα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
About the Author
Author Laurel van der Linde began ballet class at age four. At seventeen, she toured with Oukhtomsky Ballet Classique and Los Angeles Ballet. She loved dancing en pointe, but her feet did not. So she traded her pointe shoes for character heels and danced on Broadway in My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Gower Champion's Annie Get Your Gun. Now she teaches creative writing at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Illustrator Sawyer Cloud is a self-taught artist from Madagascar. She still lives on her native island, along with her family and her two pets. She loves sunny days, singing, and sharing stories with the world.
