The Turning: Room of Mirrors

The Swans of Harlem | Part Two

Today we present the second of two episodes featuring Karen Valby, author of The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History. The book records the largely forgotten stories of five Black ballerinas who changed the art form. Their stories are surprising and vivid and poignant… and totally worth your time if you enjoyed our most recent season of The Turning.  In our second episode of the series, Karen Valby speaks with former ballerina and founding member of the Dance Theater of Harlem, Sheila Rohan. You can buy The Swans of Harlem here: <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/716415/the-swans-of-harlem-by-karen-valby/">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/716415/the-swans-of-harlem-by-karen-valby/</a> See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

In every ballet studio, there is a wall of mirrors. It reflects the people within. They’re part of a closed, elite group that asks for sacrifice and devotion from its members. This insular community produces iconic artists. It’s founded on a strict power structure, often with one man at the top. By tracing the origins of this unusual lifestyle, starting with the legacy of choreographer George Balanchine and the intimate stories of young dancers, we expose the beauty of an artform and the complexity of ballet culture.