The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History

"Journalist Karen Valby reclaims the stories of five Black ballerinas – women who were the bedrock of Arthur Mitchell’s Dance Theatre of Harlem, founded in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. These dancers came from different walks of life and different geographies, but shared passion and talent for the artform. They performed around the world and opened audiences’ eyes to superlative dancing, as well as new choreography and music. This book describes the challenges and joys of working with Mitchell, a driven and exacting leader. This important story should inspire generations of girls who want to dance."