Opinion

In my library: Allegra Kent

It’s the rare picture book that’s dedicated to the memory of George Balanchine. Rarer still is a kids’ book author who actually danced for him, as Allegra Kent did. “Choreography would just flow out of him,” says the former prima ballerina, who danced with the New York City Ballet for more than 30 years. She’s since turned to teaching and writing, and just came out with her first children’s book, “Ballerina Swan.” Just don’t ask her about “Black Swan,” that hit 2010 film.“I don’t think anyone who dances could stand it,” she says, with a shudder. “Natalie Portman was too old for the part. If you’re very talented — and lucky — you’re likely to get a starring role in your late teens.” Here are four dance books Kent believes are the real deal.

Reading Dance

by Robert Gottlieb

This is a huge book about every aspect of dance writing. There’s an article about Bob Fosse, some of Isadora Duncan’s writing, even something about creating the dances in Disney cartoons. Gottlieb edits my articles for Dance magazine. He’s incredible to work with. He hears the music in a sentence.

Early Memoirs

by Bronislava Nijinska

I started with her in 1948. I was 9 and wanted to dance, so my mom found the Nijinska Studio in the Yellow Pages. She always wore black pajamas, and she didn’t teach technique, but joy and savage energy. This book has her earliest memories of her childhood and of her brother, Vaslav Nijinsky, who was spectacular from the minute he started dancing.

I Was a Dancer

by Jacques D’Amboise

I first danced with him in a partnering class in 1953. Every girl in the School of American Ballet had a crush on him! He was exuberant, strong, wild. He grew up in Washington Heights. When his sister started ballet, his mother enrolled him, too. He writes about that and every detail of his tours.

Miss Lina’s Ballerinas and the Prince

by Grace Maccarone

This is a children’s book about nine little ballet students in Italy who dance all the time, even in zoos. They have wonderful names: Katrina, Bettina, Marina. One day they’re joined by a new student: a boy. Whoa! He’s not so happy, But they all end up liking each other. It’s adorable!