Pioneering Ballerina Raven Wilkinson Dies
Essence says: ‘The dance world is mourning the loss of pioneer Ballerina Raven Wilkinson. A New York native who fell in love with ballet at the age of 5, Wilkinson is credited with being one of the first African-American women to dance for a major ballet company. She began studying at the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1955 when she was just 20 years old. According to PBS, Wilkinson eventually left the prestigious dance theater after six years, during many of which she was subject to continued racial discrimination.’
