The New Must Have Book To Teach Dance History!

Oooooooh I’m excited for this month’s book report! This is a must for any dance teacher to have on hand for themselves and their students, and is also a great tool for upcoming summer programs and dance history!

Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows and illustrated by Ebony Glen is beautifully written and presented and tells the story of ballerina Janet Collins, who danced in the racially charged and segregated time of the 1930’s and 40’s.

Collins was accepted as a dancer into the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a teenager, but under the condition she paint her skin white for performances. She refused, and later found success and recognition as the first African American prima ballerina at the Met.

I plan on using this book this summer during my ballet summer dance camps, and am so thrilled to see more and more children’s books coming out that feature the pioneers of dance and dance history.

Will you b picking up this book ASAP? Let me know in the comments below, or tell me what book you love to use with your students to teach dance history!