Eleven-year-old Filipino-American Charlotte Nebres has made history as the first black “Marie” in New York City Ballet’s holiday staging of “The Nutcracker”.
The casting of Nebres, whose father hails from the Philippines, in the lead role of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is the first time that a non-white performer essays the role of the young heroine since the production was staged in 1954.
The New Jersey resident is a student at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City where auditions for The Nutcracker were held.
Nebres bested over 180 children who auditioned for the role of the brave little girl who enters the enchanted world of The Nutcracker and helps him lead toy soldiers in a battle against mice.
Charlotte Nebres alternates with Sophia Thomopoulos in the role of Marie.
The Nutcracker’s new run started November 29 and will continue until January 5, 2020, at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center.
Philippine ballet dancers have gained recognition in international tilts, among them, students from the country’s best-known ballerina Lisa Macuja’s School of Ballet and Rench Soriano from Bacolod’s Dance Pull School of Performing Arts.
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