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

Journalist Valby (Welcome to Utopia) reveals the little-known story of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, its domineering but brilliant creator, Arthur Mitchell, and five of its most prominent ballerinas. Valby shares the stories of the troupe’s three founding members—prima ballerina Lydia Abarca; Sheila Rohan, a mother of three; and Gayle McKinney-Griffith, a Juilliard-trained ballerina—along with Marcia Sells and Karlya Shelton, who moved across the country to join the group. Through their resilience and determination in the face of racism, injustice, and societal pressures, these women left an indelible mark on the world of ballet. Narrator January LaVoy performs the bulk of the narrative, introducing the dancers at the barre and describing their journeys as they took flight. LaVoy’s careful, elegant speech captures the dancers’ struggles while keeping the interwoven stories clear and concise. The credits include the dancers themselves as they recall their stories after leaving the company. During the COVID shutdowns, the former dancers joined together to become the legacy council of the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy, preserving their stories for future generations.