of Janet Collins
Henry Holt and Company
(Macmillan Publishing)
(pub. 1.8.2019)
32 pages
and illustrator: Ebony Glenn
C haracter: Janet Collins
O verview:
"Janet Collins was a graceful, talented girl. She wanted to be a ballerina in the 1930s and '40s, a time when racial segregation was widespread in the United States. Janet pursued danced with a passion, seeking private lessons after being excluded from discriminatory dance schools.
When she was accepted into the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a teenager on the condition that she paint her skin white for performances, Janet refused. She continued to go after her dreams, never compromising her values along the way.
From her early childhood lessons to the height of her success as the first African American prima ballerina in the Metropolitan Opera, Brave Ballerina is the story of a remarkable pioneer as told by Michelle Meadows, with fantastic illustrations from Ebony Glenn."
C haracter: Janet Collins
O verview:
"Janet Collins was a graceful, talented girl. She wanted to be a ballerina in the 1930s and '40s, a time when racial segregation was widespread in the United States. Janet pursued danced with a passion, seeking private lessons after being excluded from discriminatory dance schools.
When she was accepted into the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a teenager on the condition that she paint her skin white for performances, Janet refused. She continued to go after her dreams, never compromising her values along the way.
From her early childhood lessons to the height of her success as the first African American prima ballerina in the Metropolitan Opera, Brave Ballerina is the story of a remarkable pioneer as told by Michelle Meadows, with fantastic illustrations from Ebony Glenn."
"This is the girl who danced in the breeze to the swoosh, swoosh, swoosh of towering trees.
These are the costumes her dear mama made. Costumes for lessons - that's how they paid.
These are the pointe shoes, shiny and pink, small quick steps - plink plink plink ...
This is the dancer who found her way in, but learned she would have to lighten her skin.
This is the girl with a broken heart. But she bounced right back and made a new start."
And something more: The Author's Note explains that "a man named Zachary Solov, who was ballet master at the Metropolitan Opera House, saw Janet perform and was blown away. He arranged for her to be hired by the general manager... Janet is best known for becoming the first African American prima ballerina with the Metropolitan Opera House in 1951, but she was a versatile, award-winning performer who also excelled at modern and ethnic dance. She had many talents; she was a painter, choreographer, and teacher, and was devoted to helping others."
