“Ballerina Swan”: An Interview With Allegra Kent

“Ballerina Swan”—a 50-minute show currently being performed by Making Books Sing—is based on the children’s novel of the same name written by former New York City Ballet prima ballerina, Allegra Kent. The book and the show tell the story of Sophie, a Central Park swan with dreams of joining the cast of “Swan Lake.”

Kent, the author/dancer took a break from her ballet teaching duties at Barnard College to chat with us and share her excitement about seeing her work go from page to stage. So for plenty of “Ballerina Swan” fun, read on and also hurry and enter our ticket giveaway for the Saturday, November 16 Family Benefit show!

New York Family: How’d you get involved with Making Books Sing for this project?

Allegra Kent: The phone call came out of the blue. The people at Making Books Sing found out about the book and thought it would be good for the stage as a small production.

NYF: What was your reaction when you found out the book was going to be a show?

Kent: I started dancing around my living room—a natural reaction from a dancer.

NYF: How involved were you in the transition from book to show?

Kent: I consulted on the script, but it was written by Making Books Sing Artistic Director Barbara Zinn Krieger. The show is choreographed by Michael McGowen. It’s all his vision and choreographed mostly to Tchaikovsky with a lot of wit and delightful moments.

NYF: So the main character, Sophie the swan, is a puppet. Why not a dancer in costume?

Kent: Yes, the performance is all real actors, except for Sophie, who is a puppet. We thought it would look silly if a person was dressed like a swan. It was better to create a [5-foot] puppet with real wings, a very long neck, and swan’s face.

NYF: How should parents prepare kids?

Kent: They should probably tell them the story before seeing the show.

NYF: What can you tell us about Sophie’s story?

Kent: Sophie is a Central Park swan who wants to dance in Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” The first ballet teacher she goes to won’t let her in the class. Sophie is ostracized because she’s not like anyone else. When the old ballet instructor retires, the new one gives Sophie a chance.

NYF: What was the inspiration for the book?

Kent: Seeing swans on the lake in Central Park. Ballet dancers want to be graceful like swans and I wondered, if swans saw what ballerinas do, would they want to be like us.

NYF: So is writing your second act of sorts?

Kent: For 30 years I danced for George Balanchine, who I dedicated the book to, and now I teach. I also wrote my autobiography called “Once A Dancer.” “Ballerina Swan” is my first children’s book, but I have lots of ideas.