Once a Dancer...

Rating:
Summary: An amazing dancer, an amazing life, a dull biography.
Review: Allegra Kent describes her life as a dancer, but does not bother to examine it. By chapter two, her self-pitying tone had become rather annoying.
However, this book does not fail to entertain... her life was certainly quite interesting. I especially enjoyed the study of her complex relationship with her parents.
Once a Dancer is worth reading but nothing compared to the biographies of Suzanne Farrell and Gelsey Kirkland (two of Mr. B's other prima ballerinas).

Rating:
Summary: Once a Dancer
Review: For those who danced in the 50's and studied at the School of American Ballet, this is a wonderful nostalgic review of the many dancers and teachers who were around at that time. It will bring back many memories. For those of you who knew Allegra, and wondered what ever happened to this young lady with the perfect body, there will be many surprises. I couldn't put the book down for three days and haven't enjoyed a book so much in my whole life.

Rating:
Summary: A paean to what once was
Review: I saw her dance once, and I still dream of that night. Balanchine was at his peak, and Allegra Kent was more than his principal dancer - she was his muse, his passion, his nemesis. And her dancing was incredible. Once a Dancer, Kent's autobiography, chronicles the strange world of famous ballerinas, plagued as most of them are by anorexia, domineering stage mothers, vulnerability to dance gurus, plastic surgery, and a long, long series of self-destructive behavior. Wonderful sketches of other luminaries from her era are included, plus photos, but it's the end of the book that one remembers: the poignancy of someone of Allegra Kent's talents looking back on her life and appreciating in retrospect all that she once was, is heartbreaking.

Rating:
Summary: The elusive Allegra
Review: I was not yet born at the time of Kent's ascent as a favored dancer for the New York City Ballet. Nonetheless, from other books I have read, I have come to understand that part of her appeal as a dancer was an ethereal, elusive- not quite of this earth quality. I believe that this aspect of her personality comes through in her book.She grabbed my attention with her descriptions of her beginnings and progress through dance. And then she seems almost to dance away as her personal life's conflicts begin to overshadow and ultimately, everything but end her career. Despite her many difficulties and the focus on them, I treasure this book. When I re- read it, as I often do, I start where her dance training begins and stop when her personal troubles overshadow her dance.Allegra Kent takes you into the magical world of dance and reality seems an intrusion. Don't mean to sound overwrought but this is the best way I can explain my feelings about this book. I reccommend it highly and am very glad I have it.

Rating:
Summary: Once A Dancer....What a Fairytale
Review: Ms. Kent's style of writing mirrors that of her dancing: beautiful and inspiring. Throughout her fairytale, as this work cannot accurately be described as a story, nor a novel- it is every young girl's dream written elegantly and delicately onto the pages of her autobiography, Ms. Kent speaks honestly and candidly about her troubles and problems that arise in her life. Such situations include her emotional relationship with photographer Bert Stern, as well as her desire to continue dancing and performing after pregnancy (and how George Balanchine viewed her decisions regarding her choice to start a family mid-career). She also discusses her multiple attempts at careers outside the New York City Ballet; from her stunts as a guest artist, to her trials and misconceptions about the Allegra Kent School of Ballet. Ms Kent concludes her book with the statement, "...dancing well is the best revenge". Perhaps it could be better said that writing about life in dance has become Ms. Kent's true revenge. [HHS-4]

Rating:
Summary: Once A Dancer....What a Fairytale
Review: Ms. Kent's style of writing mirrors that of her dancing: beautiful and inspiring. Throughout her fairytale, as this work cannot accurately be described as a story, nor a novel- it is every young girl's dream written elegantly and delicately onto the pages of her autobiography, Ms. Kent speaks honestly and candidly about her troubles and problems that arise in her life. Such situations include her emotional relationship with photographer Bert Stern, as well as her desire to continue dancing and performing after pregnancy (and how George Balanchine viewed her decisions regarding her choice to start a family mid-career). She also discusses her multiple attempts at careers outside the New York City Ballet; from her stunts as a guest artist, to her trials and misconceptions about the Allegra Kent School of Ballet. Ms Kent concludes her book with the statement, "...dancing well is the best revenge". Perhaps it could be better said that writing about life in dance has become Ms. Kent's true revenge. [HHS-4]

Rating:
Summary: a must read
Review: Not only is this a wonderful look into the personal and professional development of an incredible dancer, it is also an honest, beautifully written portrait of an artist's life. Allegra Kent is not only one of the most magnificent dancers of all time, she is also a very talented writer