Throwback Thursday and Debra Austin
Before Misty Copeland, there were
other African American dancers who paved the way for those who followed. I’ve
blogged before about some of them:
Debra Austin was only twelve years
old when she received a scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet.
By the time she was 16, she had joined New York City Ballet, as its first
African American female dancer. Here she danced principal roles including works
by several renowned choreographers including George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins.
Later, she joined the Zurich Ballet in Switzerland, again dancing
principal roles. She spent the next years touring Europe, and when she returned
to the United States she was invited to join Pennsylvania Ballet as a principal
dancer. She thus became the first African American ballet dancer to receive a
principal contract with a major ballet company. (http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article89451022.html#storylink=cpy)
Today, Debra Austin is Ballet Master
for Carolina Ballet.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Dance History Factoid #120
“Debra Austin was the first
African American ballet dancer to become a principal dancer with a major
American ballet company.”
Link of the Day:
Quote of the Day:
“Mediocrity
knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear
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Want to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:
http://balletconnections.com/DebraWebbRogers
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