February 3, 2025
We are celebrating Black History Month at Cincinnati Ballet by exploring moments and achievements by black dancers that have shaped the world of ballet today.
Dancer, philanthropist and activist Katherine Dunham opened one of the first Black ballet companies in the United States, Ballet Nègre, with Mark Turbyfill. While the the group disbanded shortly after, Dunham would go on to open her first dance school in 1933, to teach young Black dancers about their African heritage.
The American Negro Ballet gives its debut performance at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem. after being formed in 1934 by German dancer and choreographer Eugene von Grona, grona set out to illustrate that Black Americans could be respectable dance artists outside of the jazz dance genre. The performance’s music was a mixture of ballet staples and modern contemporaries of the time. Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird” was heard along with choreographic pieces set to the scores of W.C. Handy and Duke Ellington. The ANB’s premiere was well received by both critics and audience members.
Janet Collins acclaimed dancer and choreographer who broke the color line with the Metropolitan Opera in 1951 when she made her debut as the leading dancer in the Met’s production of “Aïda.” She went on to become the first African American prima ballerina with the Metropolitan Opera.
Born in Manhattan, NY, Raven Wilkinson is credited with being one of the first black women to dance for a major ballet company, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, in 1955 when she was 20 years old Wilkinson often had to conceal her racial identity and was encouraged to wear lighter makeup on stage. However, Wilkinson refused to lie about her race when asked and it once resulted in her being forced to stay n a colored hotel away from the rest of her company. Wilkinson would go on to be a mentor to Misty Copeland.
In 1958 Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to present his vision of honoring Black culture through dance. The company had its debut at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA on March 30, 1958. Ailey danced in the other two premieres at this performance, Redonda and Ode and Homage.
In 1955, Arthur Mitchell become the second black dancer to perform with the New York City Ballet. Mitchell would then become the first black principal dancer in the history of New York City Ballet and was cast as Puck in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1962. Mitchell’s repertoire with NYCB included: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Nutcracker, Bugaku, Agon, Western Symphony, and Arcade. Mitchell was part of the original 1957 cast of Agon, performing the pas de deux created for him and Diana Adams. he would later go on to open the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
In 1969, at the height of the civil rights movement, Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook founded Dance Theatre of Harlem. Mitchell began by teaching dance in a converted garage in Harlem, in 1972 the Dance Theatre of Harlem school moved to its permanent home at 466 West 152nd Street.
In the early 70s, the Dance Theatre of Harlem began dying dancers’ tights, pointe shoes and ribbons to match their skin tones. However, it was until 2017 that pointe shoe manufacturers began releasing more diverse shades due to manufacturer Gaynor Minden releasing a collection of inclusive satin shades.
In 1975, Lydia Abarca became the first Black female ballerina on the cover of Dance Magazine. Abarca was Dance Theatre of Harlem’s first prima ballerina and performed works like George Balanchine’s Bugaku and Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun.
Lauren Anderson trained at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy starting at seven years old. She joined Houston Ballet in 1983 as a corps de ballet member, was promoted to soloist in 1987, and in 1990 she became the first black woman to be promoted to principal dancer at Houston Ballet. Anderson became a beloved ballet star and is also one of few black ballerinas at the head of a major ballet company anywhere in the world.
Born in Columbia, TN, Stephen galloway joined Frankfurt Ballet under, then new director, William Forsythe. Galloway held his position as a principal dancer from 1986 to 2004, under Forsythe. During his time as a principal dancer, Galloway was also appointed as style coordinator and head costume designer in 1990, sometimes making up to 300 costumes for a performance. Since his time at ballet frankfurt, Galloway has worked as a freelance costume designer and choreographer for numerous ballets and operas.
In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first black woman ever to hold the position of principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. She was also the first black woman to star in Swan Lake at the MET with ABT. Since her promotion, Copeland was appointed to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition by President Obama in 2014. She was the recipient of a 2014 Dance Magazine Award and was named to the 2015 TIME 100 by TIME Magazine. Copeland is the author of the best-selling memoir Life in Motion, the children’s book Firebird, and Ballerina Body.
Theresa Ruth Howard launches MoBBallet (MoBB) to preserve and promote the contributions and stories of Black artists in the field of Ballet, as well as illuminate the lesser-known history and legacies of international professional Black ballet artists.