Thursday, March 28, 2024

Charlotte Nebres, 11, Makes History as First Black Lead in NYC Ballet’s ‘The Nutracker’

Charlotte Nebres Makes History as First Black Lead in NYC Ballet's 'The Nutracker'

*Charlotte Nebres, 11, is bringing some Black girl magic to the New York City Ballet as the first black lead in the annual production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

“It is [a big deal],” Charlotte told The New York Times of securing the role. “But to me, it’s just how I grew up, so it’s not really different to me.”

Charlotte’s father is from the Philippines and her mother, Danielle Nebres — whose family is from Trinidad — was a dancer growing up, too. When Charlotte was six, Misty Copeland, became the first female Black American principal at American Ballet Theater.

“I saw her perform and she was just so inspiring and so beautiful,” she told the Times. “When I saw someone who looked like me onstage, I thought, that’s amazing. She was representing me and all the people like me.”

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Charlotte, a student at the School of American Ballet, was hand-picked to star as Marie, the young girl who dreams of a nutcracker come to life, per PEOPLE.

“I just thought, they picked the wrong child,” Nebres said. “She is introverted in a way. But then when I saw her, I thought, O.K., I’m the one that doesn’t know Charlotte.”

Ms. Nebres laughed. “I think that’s the most interesting thing about this experience for me,” she said. “You don’t know what people are seeing in your child, and they are definitely seeing something in her.”

When Danielle told her daughter that she would be the very first black star of the Nutcracker production, Charlotte replied, “Wow. That seems a little late.”

When asked why ballet is it important to her, Charlotte explained, “To me, it just feels like when I dance I feel free and I feel empowered. I feel like I can do anything when I dance,” she told the Times. “It makes me happy, and I’m going to do what makes me happy. You don’t need to think about anything else.”

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