Ballerina Karlya Shelton-Benjamin in “Swans of Harlem"

Host Diana Korte speaks with Karlya Shelton-Benjamin, a Swan of Harlem herself who is one of the dancers featured in "The Swans of Harlem. Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years Of Sisterhood, And Their Reclamation Of A Groundbreaking History” written by Karen Valby.

It’s the forgotten story of a pioneering group of five Black ballerinas, the first principals in the Dance Theatre of Harlem, who traveled the world as highly celebrated stars in their field and whose legacy was erased from history until now.

Karlya Shelton-Benjamin began dancing at age 4 with the Colorado Concert Ballet (currently Colorado Ballet). At 17, she became the first person of color to represent the United States in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne ballet competition in Switzerland.

Her ballet sisters also featured in this book are Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan and Marcia Sells. Together they describe their triumphs and challenges of being Black ballerinas back in the day when many people didn't know they existed.