Historic Guest Appearance Honoring Deep Ties
Alexandra Hutchinson of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) has made history as the first Black ballerina to perform as a guest principal dancer with the prestigious New York City Ballet (NYCB).
The special appearance celebrated the two companies’ interwoven history, tracing back to trailblazer Arthur Mitchell. As NYCB’s first Black principal dancer, Mitchell later co-founded DTH to provide dance education in his Harlem neighborhood.
Stepping Into the Spotlight as Dewdrop
Hutchinson had the honor of dancing Dewdrop, the exhilarating lead role in NYCB’s iconic production of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.”
The role has five short but extremely technical appearances, requiring supreme stamina and stage presence. Hutchinson described savoring each moment one step at a time while picturing herself waiting in the wings. Her successful performances drew praise backstage and left her in tears.
A Warm Welcome Among Fellow Artists
While feeling nervous at first, Hutchinson was pleasantly surprised by the warm camaraderie she found rehearsing with NYCB members. “It’s very warm. It’s not cold at all,” fellow guest dancer Anthony Santos remarked, echoing the collegial creative spirit.
The guest dancers also relished working with live accompanist Sylvia Jung in the studio as part of the collaborative process. Hutchinson hopes such collaborations might open doors to more partnerships across companies moving forward.
With grace and courage, Hutchinson’s triumphant guest appearance honored ballet’s past while bringing hope for its diverse future.
