This is a really fascinating look into a part of the dance world that I honestly knew nothing about.
Karen Valby explores the forgotten history of the once thriving Dance Theatre of Harlem. A talented, young pool of black ballet dancers trying to make their mark during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. With the rise of current stars like Misty Copeland their fifty year history has all but been erased. The story mostly follows the five founding ballerinas and with candid conversations and revealing tidbits about their tough love director, Arthur Mitchell, it’s an intimate look inside their difficult but ultimately rewarding dance life.

The pacing moved the story along well even though there are a lot of names to keep track of. I especially loved the chapters the ballerinas wrote themselves about their own journeys.

As a ballet mom, I could relate to a lot of the different dance numbers, movements and even complaints about painful pointe shoes!

I came to care deeply for these charming woman and am so happy to see their story finally being told.

Thank you to the author, Net Galley & Pantheon Books for an early copy of this book!

While this is a great book filled with interviews and insights from the first black ballerinas, I do take issue with the statements that these dancers were "forgotten." The press surrounding Misty Copeland's achievements didn't erase these dancers from the history of ballet in America.
Each dancer has a specific distinction as to what made them the "first" and unfortunately that distinction is what gets forgotten sometimes.
lunderstand that is part of the author's selling point that these dancers were forgotten somehow or their careers and achievements were erased by one ballerina who the media latched onto, but it really does a disservice to ballet and dance historians, lovers and performers to suggest that the ballet world is so fickle.
As I stated, I loved this book for the insights from the dancers themselves and I think it's absolutely wonderful that these dancers are having their stories told, I just wish it weren't under the misleading banner of it being a reclamation of history.

When I picked up this book I thought it would be a simple biography which would teach me about women I’d never heard of. And. To be clear. It did.

But the book is so much more about community - the development of it, and the importance of maintaining it. I really enjoyed reading this and will recommend it broadly.

What a wonderful story about the first all black ballet company. The careers of these five ballet dancers is a tribute to the dedication and hard work that goes into becoming a dancer. The obstacles that these ladies had to overcome was huge but they never gave up. And then to have their story forgotten and untold was a grave oversight.
The author gives us the whole story of how these dancers contributed to the world of ballet.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This is a beautiful book detailing the history of black ballet. I am not an expert or even all that interested in ballet but this story, this tribute to these talented and amazing dancers still grabbed my attention and made me want to keep reading.

At the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, five original dancers from the Dance Theater of Harlem formed the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy Council. Lydia Abarca, Gayle Mc-Kinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells, and Karlya Shelton embarked on a journey to reclaim their rightful place in the narrative of ballet. They got together online weekly to “write themselves back into history”.


One incident that prompted this was that Lydia Abarca’s daughter couldn’t find anything about how her mother aided in breaking the color barrier in ballet over fifty years ago. In fact, she was the first black ballerina to be on the cover of Dance Magazine. 


The Swans of Harlem delves deep into the dancers’ personal and professional lives, unraveling the intricate tapestry of their experiences—from childhood aspirations to the arduous path to becoming ballerinas, to current- day. It sheds light on the barriers they faced as black girls aspiring to excel in a predominantly white dance form, as they were often shoved towards modern dance instead of ballet. Despite the odds, they persevered, buoyed by the unwavering support of their families. As we read on, we learn that there were black ballerinas before them who were virtually forgotten.


Readers gain insight into the company's rich history, its trials and triumphs, and the indelible mark it left on the world of dance. Their interactions with the late founder and director Arthur Mitchell, both positive and negative, offer a look into the complexities of mentorship and leadership. We learn how difficult it is financially to just keep a dance company afloat.



One section of the book pays homage to their dance partners who died of AIDS—a poignant reminder of the fragility of life.



The Swans of Harlem will resonate with readers irrespective of their familiarity with ballet. It serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of reclaiming one's narrative, and the transformative potential of ballet in transcending barriers and inspiring change.

(This review will be posted on UnderratedReads on April 30, 2024, its release date.)

This books was incredibly informative and feels like an essential addition to the narrative history of ballet. It’s was heartbreaking reading about the five ballerinas, Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton and Marcia Sells, and how their history as some of the first black ballerinas was scrubbed from the modern consciousness. Karen Valby’s efforts to bring these amazing women’s stories to light is commendable!

The only reason I took off a star for my rating is that the writing felt a little dry at times, almost like I was reading a report about their lives. However, the content was exceptional, and I highly recommend this novel.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pantheon for the ARC of this novel!

Before we heard of Misty Copeland there were the five black Ballerinas of Dance Theater of Harlem (DTH). DTH was founded by Arthur Mitchell in 1968 after the assassination of MLK Jr. He had success as a ballerina and was intent on showing the world black ballerinas. He was successful even if his methods were questionable.

The 5 ballerinas- Lydia Abarca, Marcia Sells, Sheila Rohan, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, and Karlya Shelton-Benjamin, were pushed to succeed because they all had something to prove while buying into Arthur Mitchell’s dream.

This book is about each dancer’s emotions as they change the world. The irony is that the general public largely forgot them, and so there is a constant refrain of “we were there, we were there.” Their sadness is tangible, but so is their perseverance.

I enjoyed learning about these dancers, the era in which they danced, and Arthur Mitchell. Misty Copeland sits on their shoulders and acknowledges their work.

They were there, and it was worthwhile.

#Theswansofharlem #netgalley

The Swans of Harlem is a book that is way past due, but thank goodness Karen Valby collected the stories of these five ballerinas from the Dance Theatre of Harlem's early years. In the past decade, much has been written about Misty Copeland's achievement as the first black principal dancer at ABT, but these women proved that black women could dance ballet long before Misty laced up her first pair of point shoes. These five women, Lydia Abarca-Mitchell, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton-Benjamin, and Marcia Sells, give an unflinching account of those early years of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, reclaiming their place in ballet history. While the revere Arthur Mitchell for his vision and audacity, they clearly state there was a price to pay for dancing for the company. The five omens are honest about the toll dancing took on their bodies and private lives. This boo is a must-read for any balletomane.

The Swans of Harlem tells the story of the founding of the Dance Theatre of Harlem by focusing on five of its first principle dancers, and offers theories of why their contributions have been all but forgotten. Similar to how Hidden Figures sought to tell the story of the black mathematicians, engineers, and human computers' contribution to the discovery of super sonic flight and the beginning of the space program, author Karen Valby beautifully tells the company's founder Arthur Miller and the early dancers' story. Much as a ballet has three acts, the book tells of the ballerinas' early life, their time with the DTH, and their life after they left Harlem. The book also offers interesting insights into why these women's achievements were allowed to fade from ballet history, giving rise to the idea that Misty Copeland was uniquely talented for her race, rather than simply the best of her generation. I highly recommend this story and hope it finds its way into many libraries.

If you are at all interested in dance, this is a fascinating read, about the first all Black ballet company, The Dance Theater of Harlem, and the amazing women (and men) who were its heart. Most people have heard of Misty Copeland, the first Black principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater, but these women, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton and Marcia Sells, blazed that trail 30 years before her, and sadly, seemed to have drifted away into obscurity. This book tells their story—their struggle, heartbreak, and joy. It’s a story of friendship, resilience and of sisterhood and it was eye opening to finally read their history.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Pantheon for this e-arc.*

A wealth of information with the beauty of Blackness. The stories of these women are remarkably told. Reading this book made me miss being in Harlem. Their roots add a pivotal piece to the storytelling.

As a dancer and a lover of ballet, I found The Swans of Harlem to be a beautiful and insightful account of 5 prima ballerinas from the Dance Theater of Harlem. Black ballerinas have faced so many challenges in the ballet world due to biases and racism, and this was such an important story to tell and I'm so glad to have gotten to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon books for providing me with an ebook ARC for review. I will continue to recommend this book to others and feature on tiktok and Instagram.

I received a free ebook from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review of this book. I had never heard of the Swans of Harlem. I had mistakenly thought, that Misty Copeland was the first African American ballet dancer. I learned so much from this book.

The story is fascinating. The author tells you about the ups and downs of the dancers. I could feel the dancers pain, joy, and struggles. The book talks about many very important topics. I, also, saw the sisterhood of the dancers.

The book gives so much information. I learned so MUCH about what these amazing dancers went through. I felt like I was experiencing their past with them. I am thankful for their raw stories.

The book gave so MUCH information. It gave history from the 5 main ballet dancers. At times, it was so much information for me. I wish the book was written a little easier to read. I do think I will reread this book. It is an indepth story of DTH.

I am so THANKFUL to know the early history of these amazing dancers. Thank you for educating me about the Dance Theater of Harlem.

This is an excellent accounting of the lives and careers of the Black ballerinas of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, a groundbreaking dance troupe. Author Valby has done meticulous research and undertaken collecting oral histories from surviving dancers, piecing together a story of race and the controversial philosophy that Black performers could not just be as good as white ones, but had to be better. She tackles white audience expectations and reactions as well as both criticism and support from the Black community for the DTH. Although sometimes the timelines are difficult to follow, the book's mostly linear structure gives readers an inside look at the DTH and its director Arthur Mitchell, an enormously contradictory and problematic figure who nonetheless took the DTH to unheard-of heights in the Black dance community. Before there was Misty Copeland, there were Linda Abraca, Virginia Johnson, and many others who helped pave the way for Black ballet dancers.

While I think this book is an essential addition to the body of work on dance in America, I do wish Valby had gone a little deeper into Mitchell's behavior and its negative impact on dancers and the troupe in general. And while she touches on AIDS among the male dancers, the losses the Black dance community suffered were enormous, and they feel a little brushed-off here.

4.75 stars

I really enjoyed this extraordinary book. It has several different main themes: the creation of the Dance Theater of Harlem in the 60s, the story of some amazing women and artists and their challenges and struggles, the continuing story of racism and its many tentacles, and the tale of lifelong sisterhood among these women.

The history of the dance company and its charismatic but demanding founder Arthur Mitchell is fascinating, given the backdrop of the 60s and the civil rights movement. The individual stories of the dancers and their art was wonderful and personal. And toward the end of the book, the search to create and compile a meaningful legacy of the dance company and in particular the women who were its backbone was compelling. The generosity of spirit from the different generations of dancers to acknowledge everyone's contributions was positively uplifting. I recommend this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am completely emotionally invested in this book, The Swans of Harlem, written brilliantly and honestly by Karen Valby, published by Pantheon Books. The cover says "Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History". This book, told with austere authenticity, is the story of the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy and its members, Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells and Karlya Shelton. From their beginnings studying ballet with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Arthur Mitchell, to becoming the artists they are and ballerinas in the company, this book covers their dancing lives as well as their lives after. Heartbreaking and so very very real, the decisions that they made and the decisions others made for them....are depicted in these chapters of Swans. All beautiful, all talented, all dealt with, brutally, many times, by Arthur Mitchell, this is their story and reclamation! It is a dance book that needs to be read by everyone, yes, even those of you who do not dance! Other chapters deal with the horrible occurrence of AIDS, and how it stripped the dance and artistic world of incredible artists. I loved how Ms. Valby devoted a chapter to each of these women, followed up in italics by their exact words. I didn't want this book to end...absolutely one of the best books of the year! Thank you to these women for their legacy and to Ms. Valby, for enriching my life with these words!

A tribute to the early principal ballerinas of Dance Theater of Harlem. The Swans of Harlem tells the story of five principal ballerinas committed to classical ballet who were bluntly told they would never be a principal dancer (or maybe in the company at all) at the major U.S. ballet companies. Arthur Mitchell's Dance Theater of Harlem gave them a place to star and to dance classical ballet in a new way. This book is an unflinching look at racism and sexism in dance, including Mitchell's own colorism as well as the harsh climate in which he created his company. Much of the story is told through the ballerinas' own words as they ensure their legacy is told and not forgotten. The author also covers the devastating toll AIDS and HIV took on the ballet world in the 1980s and 90s. I was left in awe of these women and what they went through, as well as sadness for the unfair limits on their potential, even as they became stars for at least a brief period. Thanks to NetGalley and PenguinRandomHouse for the ARC.

A powerful, well researched account of five of the founding members of the Dance Theater of Harlem who formed the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy Council during Covid. I appreciated all the conversations included that really let you get to know each woman. The book spans a long history from each dansers start in ballet, through the formation of the company with all it's ups and downs, through the devastation AIDS had on them to the formation of forming the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy Council and having a conversation with Misty Copeland. There were so many moving movements, especially the end at Mr. Mitchell's funeral and trying to balance a complicated flawed man who created a space for them to perform.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

I love reading about the ballet culture. This was an interesting piece of history about The Dance Theatre of Harlem, which was founded in 1969 and is renowned for being the first Black classical ballet company. It became an inspiration and refuge for young Black ballerinas who were welcomed and celebrated at DTH, when they were often scarce and marginalized in other ballet companies. While a lot of people think of Misty Copeland as the face of a famous Black ballerina, they need to read this book to know the true origins and the five Black ballerinas who actually own this ground. These were Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells, and Karlya Shelton. Lydia was the "chosen one" or the principal / prima ballerina.

I enjoyed reading about the inside workings of being a ballerina like staying lithe, physical challenges, family/love/work balance, and hair and makeup. I also loved learning about how the ballerinas adapted their pale pink pointe shoes, ribbons and tights, tinting them a darker shade to blend in more with their skin. I performed internet searches to see images of the DTH ballerinas, as this advanced reader copy did not contain photos (and I don't know if the final publication will).

The writing style was good, but I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of the various ballerinas being discussed because they alternatively would be cited by their first names while other times referenced only by their last names. It caused a bit of a disconnect for me like I was lost at sea as to whom I was reading about. However, this was an important piece of history and a worthwhile book to read.

Thank you to the publisher Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.