Allegra Kent

The United States is dotted with former Balanchine dancers: Allegra Kent, Melissa Hayden, Violette Verdy, Patricia McBride, Jacques d'Amboise, Farrell and Villella, to name a few.

Allegra Kent was my absolute favourite dancer before Suzanne Farrell.

As I recall, Allegra Kent had a wry view on any number of topics, including her mother and her marriage.I remember being struck by how important it was for her to have children (she had three, I believe), and what a (negative) impact this had on her dancing career.

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Allegra Kent: Once a Dancer

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(she also wrote a sequel which goes into excruciating detail about performing -- I think Romeo & Juliet -- with the Royal Ballet)

Once A Dancer by Allegra Kent (St. Martin's Press, $29.95) is the story of another Balanchine dancer's ups and downs (which, Kent's case, rebounded like a yo-yo).