Really lovely book about overlooked woman of color in ballet. The "swans" were recruited by Arthur Mitchell and formed the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Wonderful, inspiring story.

A beautiful book that highlights the women of ballet that the world has almost forgotten. As a former ballet dancer myself, learning so much about these fantastic women was delightful and I am so glad I came across this book. 4.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley & Pantheon Books for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy this book when I first started reading, as the writing style was somewhat awkward. But the more I read, the more I became involved with the lives of these five ballerinas – their careers, relationships, families. And I found myself sincerely moved as I finished the book. The author’s goal in writing was to give these women the acknowledgement they deserved. To tell their story and to give them back their voice and remind people that “they were there.”

Their careers were amazing, especially for the time period beginning in the early 1960s when the civil rights movement was gaining awareness. They had been told they couldn’t be prima ballerinas due to their ethnicity, yet they performed all over the world with the Dance Theater of Harlem, appeared on many magazine covers and numerous media outlets. They were admired and respected by everyone, including George Balanchine, known as the father of ballet and one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century.

This nonfiction book contains layers of history – it’s a story of the remarkable careers of five black ballerinas. It’s also a story of civil rights, racism, and sexism in the ballet world. Just as importantly, it’s the story of finding strength, sisterhood, and validation, as well as the healing power of friendship.

You don’t need to know anything about ballet to enjoy this book, but you will learn so much from reading this inspiring, moving, and remarkable history.

If you only read one book this year, this is the one! This book was an eye-opener for me. I am so thankful to Karen Valby for writing such a moving, beautiful retelling part of history that I was completely unaware of. I know this is a book I will read over and over again.

The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History by Karen Valby, like it's title, was not a quick read. Even having grown up as a dancer and calling myself a lover of ballet and theatre, I was not familiar with many of the names mentioned and found myself stopping many times to look up dancers, YouTube videos, or refresh my memory of ballet movements. Thankfully there was a pretty decent amount of YouTube videos thanks to the Dance Theatre of Harlem and others working to preserve this valuable history.

Valby states "I'm a white woman with two Black daughters" and in the acknowledgements, "When you are the mother of a Black child, you look for representation in every room, on every screen, in every book, on every stage" and I believe she delivered on this promise by introducing us to these amazing people and their gifts and sacrifices. Completed during Black History Month, which I will continue to honor and celebrate diversity through the accomplishments of those who didn't know privilege due to marginalization. I'll step off my soapbox now.

Here are a few favorite quotes:

Art is activism. Let the gorgeous lines of his dancers’ bodies serve as fists in the air.

I didn’t have to be a star ballerina. It was enough that I was there. I was there. I was there.”

“You’re not going to stick a needle in your arm when your instrument is your body.”

He wasn’t a Black man who dared to dance ballet. He was a dancer who dared ballet to see and celebrate his Blackness.

“When you live in this skin, you grow up knowing you have a special position in the world that you must protect,”

“Always walk on stage like you are somebody!”

“Ma would pay Ms. Barbara with Pall Malls, a six-pack of Meister Brau, and maybe some baloney and cheese sandwiches and tomato soup to feed all us kids.” (Sheila objects to this recounting, insisting Ms. Barbara was paid in cash as well.)

Prior to her life at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Wynn had become famous for designing gowns for the likes of Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mae West, as well as collaborating with Hugh Hefner on what would become Playboy’s iconic bunny waitress ensemble.

Geoffrey Holder’s Dougla, which depicts the elaborate wedding ritual between partners of African and Indian descent.

Ballet is for everyone. The classical arts belong to all of us.

Many little girls dream of becoming a ballerina. Some make it, and some continue to dream about it. The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby focuses on five Black ballerinas who joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) because of their love of dance. They also joined this company because they were not given a chance to join predominantly white companies in the late 1960s and 1970s. These incredible women performed before the Queen of England, Mick Jagger, and Stevie Wonder. They attracted the likes of Bob Fosse and casting directors from The Wiz among many other prominent opportunities. Now their stories come to life in this enlightening book.

This book would be a perfect read for Black History month or for Women's History month. It's ideal for anyone who wants to learn about this little known ballet troupe who produced one of the first Black prima ballerinas, Lydia Abarca, and inspired dancers like Misty Copeland and probably many more. The women are a diverse group of dancers who came from different backgrounds and led very different lives after they left their roles as ballerinas. There's triumph and heartache and many lessons to be learned.

If you don't like ballet, and I'm not a huge fan, you'll still enjoy this book. It's a story about people and how they got along in this world. While you may think the racism that prevented them from becoming part of historically white companies was all they faced, within the troupe, dancers encountered racism, competition, and deathly diseases. They also pushed on and made great strides for others today and showed their mettle on the stage and outside of the tight-knit community they developed by being a part of DTH.

Except for being a little slow in parts, I thought this was a satisfying read. At times, it was entertaining, and, at other points, it was heartbreaking. These women were tough yet dealt with the stress of being a ballerina and facing their ultimate taskmaster, Arthur Mitchell, who ran the troupe with exacting standards. Each woman was easily identifiable, and you rooted for them all the way. I found this book to be inspirational and the words danced off the page.

Books like these remind me of why we need non-fiction, written from so many different perspectives. This is a huge part of history that is left out or never told the right away. What a fun read about the first Black ballerinas with a major dance company. Although I am no dancer, I appreciate the journey it takes to take dancing from a hobby to a profession. These women had to fight harder for their spots, even with more talent. I am inspired and in awe of their determination and pride to share their story. Just a wow!

The Swans of Harlem is an amazing book. You learn about the women and men who were the founding dancers of the Dance Theater of Harlem (DTH) as well as Arthur Mitchell the founder and force behind DTH. The book introduces us to the dancers and their families and the struggles they go through. You will learn history of dance and how these Swans are reclaiming their place in history. This is a book that anyone who likes dance should definitely read. I highly recommend it.

Beautifully written book by Karen valby, the swans of Harlem had me at the title.

I used to teach dance and ballet so I knew I needed to read this book and also love history. I was not mistaken with choosing this book, i loved it.

It's about 5 black ballerinas Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells, and Karlya Shelton-Benjamin and the struggles they went through to do what they loved dancing. These women were forgotten and so glad their stories are being told.

These remarkable women helped in starting the Dance Theatre of Harlem in the 1960s and 70s.

It's a story of love, resilience, ballet, civil rights, strength, friendship and determination. These women helped in opening the path for other women of color to dance and be successful.

This is a must read for any dance, ballet lover, civil rights and strong women

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History by Karen Valby is a 2024 Pantheon publication.

Full disclosure: I know next to nothing about ballet. The reason I picked this book is because of the history, which seemed to be forgotten, or ignored, and was finally coming to light, giving the ladies some long overdue recognition.

On that level the book delivers, even if one doesn’t really understand the world of ballet. The women featured in this book were all members of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney- Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells, and Karla Shelton. It was Arthur Mitchell who brought the Dance Theatre of Harlem to fruition, which then led to the sisterhood of the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy.

The history is fascinating- but it was also heartbreaking too. The world of ballet is a complicated and secretive one in many ways. Getting a peek into that culture is a rare treat and I found it to be an eye-opening experience. I was not always able to understand the mindset and Mitchell just seemed like a monster to me. It was not always easy reading, for me at least, and I struggled to keep reading it at times. But, overall the book is organized, very personal, giving these women room to tell their stories and bringing their pioneering genius into the spotlight. I’m glad they finally got the credit they deserved.

4 stars

The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby is a novel of resilience and the pursuit of dreams set against the backdrop and rich cultural history of Harlem. The story follows Nina, a young gifted dancer, who defies racial and societal expectations with her goal of joining a prestigious ballet company. The characters and the plot are both captivating and multi-dimensional. Crowley clearly portrays the challenges faced by black artists trying in succeed in a predominantly white art form. The book is moving and inspiring. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Swans of Harlem is a marvelous story about five Black ballerinas. It tells the story of the first Black ensemble and how the women formed a sisterhood there. Their story is important because these groundbreakers and trailblazers are not as well known, and their history has been erased to an extent.

The best part about reading is learning stories and history you didn’t know before. That’s exactly what this novel did and I’m so happy to see it getting national acclaim. Was initially drawn to the cover, but the story itself is incredible and so well written.

The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby is such an important work of nonfiction, as it introduces readers to the women who set the stage as the leaders of the Black ballerina movement in Harlem. I've learned a good bit about this time period, and this was new information to me.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

It was so interesting to learn about these pioneers of Black ballet! I had never heard of these women prior to reading this book, but I am now going to do more research about their lives, and maybe make a trip to Dance Theater of Harlem in the future!

Karen Valby's The Swans of Harlem is a mesmerizing and poignant exploration of art, identity, and the indelible bonds of friendship. With lyrical prose and a keen eye for detail, Valby crafts a narrative that is as graceful and layered as its title suggests.

Final Review

"I bind love to me. I bind joy to me. I bind up negative thoughts and loose the piece of God in my life." (0:28:34)

The Swans of Harlem is the sort of story that seems dreamlike and surreal even though it is a realistic depiction of the lives of real people. The professional dancing world explored in this book is breathtakingly fraught with the threat of injury. Reading about this subject makes me wonder and ask question– how does someone survive such a world? Could such abuse be gotten away with today? What makes someone stay in such an environment?

It's an interesting and moving read. I recommend it to people who are interested in behind the scenes of the performing arts, fans of tell-alls, and history readers.

"No matter what, we have the right to eat!" (6:15:29)

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. She was still young enough that even if she hadn't seen it, she could still be it. What a wild thing to think about, aging out of opportunities that were unavailable to you in the years of your youth.

2. There is a lot of detail in this book about the abuse that is rampant in the ballet industry. Trigger warning for sexual harassment, ED, verbal and physical abuse.

3. I love that this book's sections are written in first person from the perspective of the different ballerinas. This form offers so much perspective!

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. The author at one point compares a dancer to a prize stallion. I think this and similar issues are actually a matter of style, though. Numerous overly direct metaphors. And it's just not for me.

2. They wanted the dancers bigger, stronger, thinner, perfect. I feel like this quotation perfectly encapsulates the unobtainable standards directors demand from ballet dancers. Being bigger and stronger requires muscle building, which is the opposite of 'thinner.' Therefore 'perfect' actually meant to this industry that dancers must obtain the unobtainable.

3. She would have loved to teach at the school. ...He didn't want her near the school. It would have been an embarrassment for him. He didn't want the wheelchair. (3:22:14)

Rating: 🩰🩰🩰🩰 /5 toe shoes
Recommend? yes
Finished: Dec 7 '24
Format: Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
💃 dancing
🕰 history (nonfiction)
💇🏾‍♀️ women's coming of age
🎧 good audiobooks

Thank you to the author Karen Valby, publishers Pantheon, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE SWANS OF HARLEM. I found an accessible copy (audiobook) on Libby. Read by multiple narrators. All views are mine.
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Pre-Read Note:

This is another arc that got away. I requested this book from NetGalley because I used to be a ballerina. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done. I love stories about ballerinas and stories about perseverance, so I knew this book was for me.

I received an ARC of The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and I found the book to be a captivating and enlightening read that brought to light an important piece of history. SThe Swans of Harlem tells the forgotten story of five pioneering Black ballerinas—Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells, and Karlya Shelton-Benjamin—who were instrumental in the founding and success of the Dance Theatre of Harlem in the 1960s and 70s. These women broke racial barriers in the world of ballet, performing for royalty and celebrities, and gracing the covers of major magazines. Despite their groundbreaking achievements, their contributions were largely erased from history until now. The book is structured around the personal and professional journeys of these five ballerinas. It begins with their early years, detailing their struggles and triumphs as they trained under the demanding yet visionary Arthur Mitchell, the first Black principal dancer of George Balanchine’s City Ballet. The narrative follows their rise to prominence, highlighting their performances in iconic ballets and their impact on the dance world. The story also delves into the challenges they faced, including colorism, sexism, and the pressures of maintaining their positions in a predominantly white industry. As the ballerinas' careers progress, the book explores their enduring sisterhood and the formation of the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy Council, which aims to preserve and celebrate their legacy. The narrative is rich with vivid details and personal anecdotes, bringing to life the glamour and grit of their professional ballet careers. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in The Swans of Harlem. Valby’s writing is both engaging and informative, providing a well-rounded portrayal of each ballerina’s unique personality and journey. The book’s exploration of their sisterhood and the impact of their work on future generations of dancers is particularly moving. While some parts of the narrative felt a bit repetitive, the overall execution and depth of research made this book a compelling read.
Valby’s ability to weave together historical context with personal stories creates a powerful narrative that sheds light on the often-overlooked contributions of Black ballerinas to the world of dance. I highly recommend The Swans of Harlem to anyone interested in ballet, Black history, or stories of resilience and triumph. I look forward to reading more from Karen Valby in the future. #netgalley #theswansofharlem

A special thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this advance copy of The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby. I really enjoy a strong non-fiction work, and I was pleased to read about this group of African-American ballerinas - it was great for those lovers of historical fiction as well. Thank you again to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review. I would definitely read another work from this author.

Loved learning more about black womens roll in ballet. This was such a treat and also eye opening too. Should be required reading for all dancers to fully understand the contribution black women have give to the art.