LOS ANGELES, CA: Celebrating the Life & Legacy of World-Renowned African American Ballerina Raven Wilkinson
Company:
City Ballet of Los Angeles
Raven Wilkinson was an American dancer who is credited with having been the first African American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company. Wilkinson broke the color barrier in 1955 when she signed a contract to dance full-time with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She also went on to dance with the Dutch National Ballet as a soloist, and New York City Opera. Born on February 2, 1935, and passed away on December 17, 2018, Ms. Wilkinson was also a cherished mentor to Misty Copeland.
Led by City Ballet of Los Angeles Founder and Artistic Director Robyn Gardenhire and UC Irvine Dance Historian Ariyan Johnson, this Raven Wilkinson Celebration of Life and Legacy celebration includes performances by LA County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) and Colburn School Ballet Dancers with Saiko Fujii, Colburn School Pianist on Sunday, March 19 at 4:00 p.m. at the Ebell Club of Los Angeles. Admission to the Celebration of Raven Wilkinson is $25.
The Ebell of Los Angeles is located at 743 S Lucerne Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90005. Free parking in lot or ample street parking.
A more comprehensive bio and remembrance for Raven Wilkinson can be found here.
Robyn Gardenhire is the founder and artistic director of City Ballet of Los Angeles, a scholarship school for students from all economic and racial backgrounds. As the artistic director and principal choreographer, Ms. Gardenhire has developed ballets that are classical as well as cutting edge, bringing new stories and perspective to the ballets.
Ariyan Johnson is an American actress, television director, dancer and choreographer. Johnson is best known for her roles as Chantel Mitchell in the 1992 indie drama film Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. She is currently an Assistant Professor in Dance at University of California Irvine teaching Hip Hop and Jazz.
For tickets and more information, please visit https://www.cityballetofla.org/, or https://tinyurl.com/ebell-raven-wilkinson-tickets, or call 310-966-0505
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