{"id":23747,"date":"2014-05-15T21:39:58","date_gmt":"2014-05-16T01:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=23747"},"modified":"2014-05-15T21:40:18","modified_gmt":"2014-05-16T01:40:18","slug":"review-of-a-dance-like-starlight-by-kristy-dempsey-and-floyd-cooper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=23747","title":{"rendered":"Review of A Dance Like Starlight, by Kristy Dempsey and Floyd Cooper"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dance_like_starlight_large\"<\/a>A Dance Like Starlight<\/p>\n

One Ballerina\u2019s Dream<\/em><\/p>\n

by Kristy Dempsey
\nillustrated by Floyd Cooper<\/p>\n

Philomel Books, 2014. 32 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a beautifully illustrated picture book about a little girl who wants to be a ballerina. Sounds trite? What gives this book extra power is that the little girl is black and lives in Harlem in the 1950s. Her mother works for the ballet school, cleaning and stitching costumes.<\/p>\n

One day, the Ballet Master sees the little girl do an entire dance in the wings, from beginning to final bow. After that, he makes an arrangement for her to join lessons each day from the back of the room, even though she can\u2019t perform onstage with white girls.<\/p>\n

And every once in a while,
\nWhen Mrs. Adams is especially surprised or perhaps even pleased with my form,
\nShe asks me to demonstrate a movement for the whole class.
\nWith every bend, I hope.
\nWith every pli\u00e9,
\nevery turn,
\nevery grand jete, I hope.
\nThe harder I work, the bigger my hope grows,
\nand the more I wonder:
\nCould a colored girl like me
\never become
\na prima ballerina?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then something life-changing happens. She sees an announcement that Janet Collins is going to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House, the first colored prima ballerina. Her Mama makes sure she gets to go.<\/p>\n

My favorite picture in the book goes with these words:<\/p>\n

In my heart I\u2019m the one leaping across that stage,
\nraising myself high on those shoulders,
\nthen falling
\nslowly
\nslowly
\nslowly
\nto the arms below.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like Miss Collins is dancing for me,
\nonly for me,
\nshowing me who I can be.
\nAll my hoping
\nwells up and spills over,
\ndripping all my dreams onto my Sunday dress.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The picture shows a close up of Janet Collins in the middle of a leap in front of a packed opera house, with the girl in a graceful leap right beside her.<\/p>\n

The Author\u2019s Note at the back explains the historical background:<\/p>\n

On November 13, 1951, four years before singer Marian Anderson\u2019s Metropolitan Opera debut, dancer Janet Collins became the first African American hired to perform under contract with the Metropolitan Opera. Though she had been denied the opportunity to dance with other ballet troupes because of the color of her skin, Met Ballet Master Zachary Solov was so taken with her skill and beauty as a dancer, his choreography of the opening night opera was inspired by her movement. Rudolf Bing, general manager of the Met from 1950 to 1972, considered his greatest achievement to be having hired Miss Collins, breaking the barrier that existed for African American performers of the era.<\/p>\n

Miss Collins\u2019s performance on opening night and the fact that she was \u201ccolored,\u201d as African Americans were called at that time, were both highly publicized in advance. Though I have only imagined this little girl and her mother were at the Met to see Miss Collins perform, I hope many women, regardless of their age or the color of their skin, are inspired to achieve their own dreams through her historic performance.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As if the inspiring story, with its discussion of wishes versus hope, weren\u2019t enough, the art by Floyd Cooper is simply beautiful. This is an uplifting book in every way.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/dance_like_starlight.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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