Portland Public Library

Night's dancer, the life of Janet Collins, Yaël Tamar Lewin

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

individual biography

platesillustrations

index present

non fiction

Night's dancer

bibliography

712117793

Yaël Tamar Lewin

the life of Janet Collins

This book chronicles the life of dancer Janet Collins, the first African-American prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera. Born in New Orleans in 1917 and raised in Los Angeles, she endured an era in which racial bias prevailed, and subsequently prevented her from appearing in the South. Nonetheless, her performances transformed the way black dancers were viewed in ballet. The book begins with an unfinished memoir written by Collins in which she gives an account of her childhood and young adult years, including her rejection by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo

In the beginning -- About art -- Modern à la mode -- Creation -- Exodus east -- Out of this world -- Enter Egypt -- The trouble I've seen -- Eye of the storm