An 11-year-old ballerina is set to make history this Christmas, as the first black lead in the New York City Ballet’s annual production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.
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Charlotte Nebres, a student at the School of American Ballet, has been chosen to play the titular role of Marie in the 2019 performance.
“It is [a big deal],” Nebres told The New York Times on securing the widely coveted gig. “But to me, it’s just how I grew up, so it’s not really different to me.”
Nebres was referencing her biggest inspiration, Misty Copeland, who famously became the first female African American to become a principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history.
“I saw her perform and she was just so inspiring and so beautiful,” Nebres continued. “When I saw someone who looked like me onstage, I thought, that’s amazing. She was representing me and all the people like me.”
The 11-year-old also has a mother Danielle Nebres to look up to growing up, as she was a dancer too.
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“With that poker face of hers, she said, ‘Well, I’m Marie,'” Danielle Nebres said on her daughter securing the role. “And I just thought, ‘Oh my goodness – they really did it.’ I couldn’t believe it.”
She then went on to reveal that when she told Charlotte she would be the first black ballerina to star in the production, she simply replied: “Wow. That seems a little late.”
Charlotte hopes that her forthcoming role will inspire the next generation of dancers to pursue their dreams.
“It’s pretty amazing to be not only representing the School of American Ballet, but also representing all of our cultures,” she said. “There might be a little boy or girl in the audience seeing that and saying, ‘Hey, I can do that too.'”
But above all, the budding ballerina is here to enjoy the big moment.
“I feel like I can do anything when I dance,” she added. “It makes me happy, and I’m going to do what makes me happy. You don’t need to think about anything else.”
An 11-year-old ballerina is set to make history this Christmas, as the first black lead in the New York City Ballet’s annual production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.
WATCH BELOW: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby’ Trailer
An 11-year-old ballerina is set to make history this Christmas, as the first black lead in the New York City Ballet’s annual production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.
WATCH BELOW: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby’ Trailer
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