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Dance Up Close to Allegra Kent's "Ballerina Swan"
By Sammi Sowerby / Follow @sammi.in.shanghai on Instagram
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Published on November 17, 2013
Ballerina and Author, Allegra Kent with Sophie Swan
Meet Sophie Swan and Her Friends as Making Books Sing Presents a Very Special Children’s Ballet and Puppet Show
Ballerina Swan
Nov. 9–24, 2013
Theater 3, 311 W 43rd St. 3rd Floor, New York City
With minutes to spare until my interview with Allegra Kent, I am lost in reverie. “What will she be like?” I wonder.
I am alone in the ladies restroom at DANY Studios, save for an elegant lady who is also at the mirror. We apply fresh coats of lipstick side-by-side, deep in our own thoughts. Finally, I look up to shoot her a smile, and my heart does a jeté (this is a ballet piece afterall, it can't just jump.)
“Ms. Kent? What a pleasure to meet you! In the restroom, even! I’m from The Dance Enthusiast and I’ll be interviewing you in a few short minutes.”
We share a few laughs and take our conversation from the ladies to the studio. Girls will be girls, at the end of the day.
Allegra Kent on George Balanchine, Sophie Swan and Never Giving Up!
Allegra Kent was once a Principal Ballerina and a favorite of George Balanchine during his reign at the New York City Ballet. She is also an actress and an author, the latter being the catalyst for this feature. Thanks to Making Books Sing, a theater company and arts education non-profit, Ballerina Swan, a children’s book by Kent, has the chance to be turned into a ballet.
Meet Sophie Swan! Star of Allegra Kent's Children's Book Ballerina Swan
Ballerina Swan, a 50-minute family show blending dance, theater and puppetry, stars Sophie, a swan who livesin the Central Park pond. While other swans are perfectly content doing regular "swan" things, Sophie dreams of dancing. The show features three dancers and one dancer-puppeteer who operates the five-foot Sophie Swan puppet. Choreographed by Michael McGowan, Ballerina Swan features a libretto by Barbara Zinn Kreiger, founder of Making Books Sing. The swan puppet was designed by the renowned puppet troupe Phantom Limb.
More Sophie Swan and Making Books Sing Team in Rehearsal
Best suited for children aged 3 through 8, Ballerina Swan can still be enjoyed by dance enthusiasts of all ages. Anyone can learn from Sophie the Swan’s example where it concerns perseverance, because dancing is a human/animal right!
Nov. 10th - 24th
Thursdays & Fridays at 10:30 AM | Saturdays & Sundays at 11AM & 2PM
Theater 3, 311 W. 43rd St. (at 8th Ave), 3rd Fl. New York, NY 10036
Recommended for ages 4-8
Tickets: $25 per adult/child ticket or $80 for Family 4-Pack
Reservations via www.makingbookssing.org or (646) 601-1406.
For more information about Making Books Sing, visit: www.makingbookssing.org
