Allegra Kent, legendary ballerina and muse of George Balanchine and Joseph Cornell, was a dancer at New York City Ballet for over thirty years. There she danced in dozens of major roles, many of them in ballets created especially for her by Balanchine. A former teacher at Barnard College, Allegra is the author of several critically acclaimed books, including her autobiography, Once a Dancer . . . , and her first book for children, Ballerina Swan. She lives in New York City.
