“You would guess that she was born dancing, or, if not dancing, born as a creature meant to fly, needing to touch nothing earthly, except, possibly for fun. Night never fell more lightly.”
—Arthur Pollock, The Compass
Welcome to our book
Meet Janet the dancing butterfly! She soars, glides, pirouettes, and wants to dance with others. But will a famous troupe of dancing butterflies accept her? She’s so colorful!
Thank you for visiting!
This imaginative book, set in a dreamy world of wings and flight, introduces the Black dance pioneer Janet Collins (1917–2003) to younger readers.
Janet was a history maker — she broke the color line in 1951 as the first full-time Black company member of the Metropolitan Opera, which hired her as a prima ballerina.
She was also a noted soloist, a gifted visual artist, and a legendary performer.
Duke Ellington called her his chiffon butterfly.
The plot is inspired by Janet's life — including her audition for the Ballets Russes, her rejection because of her skin tone, and her decision to persevere.
The book has been created for the 75th anniversary of Janet's Met debut. Years later, her story of dancing through difference remains timely.
We invite kids of all ages to celebrate her legacy.
Enjoy Janet!
Yaël and Kristiana
About us
Yaël Tamar Lewin is a dance historian, choreographer, and Gestalt therapist. She is the author of Night’s Dancer: The Life of Janet Collins (Wesleyan University Press) and a recipient of the Marfield Prize, the National Award for Arts Writing.
Kristiana Pärn is an Estonian-born artist who studied with Marje Berlokko, attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, and established her own studio. Her work has been shown throughout the United States and abroad.
Yaël and Kristiana met at the Union Square holiday fair. They like magical creatures.
Above all, they hope that Janet the Dancing Butterfly conveys the importance of being inclusive — and illustrates that the arts community can be a beautiful space that brings us together.
Janet Collins as the Queen of the Night in La Gioconda.
Photograph by Sedge LeBlang.
Courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera Archives.
Read me
Janet the Dancing Butterfly is sold exclusively in the BookBaby Bookshop.
“I saw someone rehearsing alone and I was stunned. I couldn’t continue on because this person was moving in such an exciting and gorgeous way.
Later, I was told that that was
Janet Collins.”
—Mary Hinkson
Bonus shopping
More about Janet
Read the award-winning Night’s Dancer:
The Life of Janet Collins, by Yaël.
More art
Enjoy Kristiana’s paintings, prints,
and stationery.
We’re so happy that you joined us.
For inquiries, please contact:
paperwavepress@gmail.com
