THE DANCERS

This begins as a realistic story about a little boy (black) going to work with his father (a prop man?) and watching Yvonne, a beautiful ballerina (white) rehearse. Before you know it, though, a male dancer, a violinist, and Yvonne herself are skipping rehearsal to visit Michael at home. While they and the neighborhood children dance in the street, Michael's mother tosses up corn bread, collard greens and fried chicken for all, and after dinner little Karen from next door teaches Yvonne to dance the chicken. At last Karen and Michael attend a regular performance at the theater. Mrs. Rockwell's pictures do their best to make up for the absence of music and dance to sustain the fantasy, but the story is less imaginative than just unlikely.