Allegra Kent taking ballet. After graduating, she joined the New York City Ballet in 1953 at the age of 15, and was promoted to principal in 1957. Many roles in George Balanchine's ballets were created for her, including "Seven Deadly Sins", "Ivesiana" and "Bugaku". She danced the role of Dewdrop in the 1958 Playhouse 90 telecast of Balanchine's version of "The Nutcracker". She performed in such ballets as "Serenade", "Agon" and "Dances at a Gathering". She retired in 1981, becoming a ballet teacher, and in 1997 published an autobiography, "Once a Dancer". In 2012, Kent published her first book for children, "Ballerina
MS Costa Allegra being delivered in July 1990 as "Costa Marina". Following this Costa Crociere acquired "Alexandra" on 28 August 1990 for conversion into a cruise ship at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, the same shipyard that had rebuilt "Costa Marina". Work on "Alexandra" commenced on 4 September 1990. She received an entirely new superstructure in the same style as that of "Costa Marina", as well as new engines. However, unlike "Costa Marina", "Alexandra" was also lengthened by when rebuilt. Although originally planned to be renamed "Costa Azzurra", the ship was eventually named "Costa Allegra" and delivered to Costa Cruises on