A publication of FreedUSA.com Volume 3 Number 1  If you're a professional dancer, a student of dance, or just love the art form, may we recommend a book-or two or three-that we know you'll find to be nothing short of fascinating? Freed Reads is the place where devotees of dance gain inspiration from the life stories of famous ballerinas and choreographers, as well as the immortals of the silver screen. We are profiling the lives of three dancers, all of whom were principals at one time or another at New York City Ballet, and all of whom danced for the Master, George Balanchine. Holding on to the Air: An Autobiography by Suzanne Farrell & Toni Bentley Six years after the death of legendary choreographer George Balanchine (who discovered, molded and, eventually, fell in love with the young dancer), Suzanne Farrell recounts her life: From the time she arrived in New York City at age 15, through her years in New York City Ballet as Balanchine's ultimate "muse", to marrying and leaving the company-and returning years later to work with Balanchine again. As the center of Balanchine's attentions, Farrell collaborated with him in the creation of his most celebrated works. Though she could not reciprocate when he fell in love with her, Farrell speaks with great regard for their mutual devotion, which found its physical consummation through the "dance" and not the traditional way. The book's highest appeal will be to the dance audience; ballet students and fans will find it fascinating. It is essential for any performing arts collections. Co-written with former NYCB dancer Toni Bentley, Suzanne tells her extraordinary and often controversial tale with grace, integrity, and style, never going on the offensive or writing an unkind word of anyone. Farrell's book is a moving personal story, and readers will find her life nothing short of inspirational. Once a Dancer: An Autobiography by Allegra Kent Like Suzanne Farrell, Allegra Kent joined the New York City Ballet at the age of fifteen. She remained there for 30 years-20 of those years as principal dancer. Beautiful, sensuous, and mysterious, she quickly became an essential Balanchine staple-and the story of her personal life is as dramatic as the story of her rise to fame. Born Iris Cohen in 1937, Kent reveals her often strange and bizarre life, which at times reads more like a Grimm's fairy tale than a dancer's memoir. Beginning with stage mother/Christian Download this article now (PDF)  Page 1 2 3  ©2003-2008 Freed of London Ltd. All rights reserved.