Debra Austin (born July 25, 1955) is an American ballet dancer who rose to prominence in 1982 when she was promoted to the rank of principal dancer at Pennsylvania Ballet, making her the first African-American female principal dancer of a major American ballet company. She was also the first African-American female dancer at the New York City Ballet. She currently serves as the ballet mistress for the Carolina Ballet.
First African-American woman to become a principal dancer of the Pennsylvania Ballet: Debra Austin
Tags: Ballet
Recent Posts
- Terri Sewell, Alabama’s First Black Congresswoman, Honors Civil Rights Icons Through Historic Congressional Actions
- Arthur “Buttons” Speakes: Old Dominion’s First Black Scholarship Athlete Who Paved the Way for Future Generations of Black Athletes
- Corey A. Thompson Leads the Way as First Black Top Non-Commissioned Officer at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
- Kgothatso Montjane Triumphs at Wimbledon as South Africa’s First Wheelchair Tennis Champion in Doubles
- Kehinde Andrews Leads Europe’s First Black Studies Program, Challenging Narratives on Meghan Markle and British Race Relations
