{"product_id":"black-swans-9798765400203","title":"Black Swans","description":"The stories of six daring, groundbreaking Black ballet dancers leap off the pages of this beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book. Meet Essie Marie Dorsey, who in 1926 opened one of the first ballet schools for Black students; Arthur Mitchell, the first Black dancer with the New York City Ballet; Christian Holder, a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet; choreographer Dwight Rhoden; and present-day ballerinas Misty Copeland and Michaela DePrince. With a leap of faith and a love of dance, these Black Swans overcame obstacles and opened doors for all the children who dream of dancing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor \u003cb\u003eLaurel van der Lind\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ee\u003c\/b\u003e began ballet class at age four. At seventeen, she toured with Oukhtomsky Ballet Classique and Los Angeles Ballet. She loved dancing en pointe, but her feet did not. So she traded her pointe shoes for character heels and danced on Broadway in \u003ci\u003eMy Fair Lady\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eA Chorus Line\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSeven Brides for Seven Brothers\u003c\/i\u003e, and Gower Champion's \u003ci\u003eAnnie Get Your Gun\u003c\/i\u003e. Now she teaches creative writing at the University of California, Los Angeles. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIllustrator \u003cb\u003eSawyer Cloud\u003c\/b\u003e is a self-taught artist from Madagascar. She still lives on her native island, along with her family and her two pets. She loves sunny days, singing, and sharing stories with the world.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Sunbird Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50930161647890,"sku":"9798765400203","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_0c2b7ed7-40ff-4447-aa3b-7c4a7ee844cb.jpg?v=1739065748","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/black-swans-9798765400203","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}