Chyrstyn Fentroy facts for kids
Chyrstyn Mariah Fentroy is a talented American ballet dancer. She is currently a main dancer, called a principal, with the Boston Ballet. Before that, she was also a principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. When Chyrstyn joined the Boston Ballet in 2017, she was the first African-American female dancer to join the company in ten years.
Early Life and Training
Chyrstyn Fentroy grew up in Los Angeles, California. Both of her parents were professional dancers. Her father taught hip-hop and jazz dance, and her mother, Ruth Fentroy, was a classical ballet dancer. Chyrstyn started learning ballet from her mother at the Peninsula School of Performance Arts in Palos Verdes, California.
When Chyrstyn was 17, she moved to New York City. There, she trained at the Joffrey Ballet on a special scholarship. As a student, she traveled and performed with the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group.
During her time with the Joffrey Ballet, Chyrstyn competed in important dance events. She participated in the Youth America Grand Prix finals in 2010. The next year, in 2011, she also competed in the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition.
Dance Career
After finishing her training at the Joffrey Ballet, Chyrstyn Fentroy joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem. This dance company was created for Black dancers during the civil rights movement. She later became a principal dancer, which is the highest rank, under the direction of Virginia Johnson.
During her five years with the company, Chyrstyn performed in many countries. She danced in Austria, Honduras, Italy, Israel, and Turkey. She also had lead roles in many famous ballets. These included The Lark Ascending by Alvin Ailey and Agon by George Balanchine. She also performed in Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven.
Chyrstyn was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine in January 2015. She was named one of "25 to Watch," which highlights rising dance stars. The next year, she received the Princess Grace Honoraria Award in Dance. In 2018, a Boston arts group called WBUR recognized her as one of their "Artery 25." This award celebrates important artists of color in the Boston area.
Joining Boston Ballet
Chyrstyn wanted more chances to grow as a dancer. So, in 2017, she joined the Boston Ballet. When she joined, she was the first African-American female dancer in the company in ten years.
As a member of the corps de ballet (a group of dancers) for a piece called "Chaconne," Chyrstyn experienced racism in ballet. She had to hide her natural hair. This experience made her want to speak out and work for change in the ballet world.
She was promoted to second soloist in 2018. Then, in 2019, she became a soloist. During her time with the Boston Ballet, choreographers and critics have praised Chyrstyn's performances.
Activism and Advocacy
To help fight racism in ballet, Chyrstyn Fentroy has worked with the Boston Ballet. She helps to highlight dancers of color. She also helps young dancers of color who want to become professionals.
As part of her efforts, she has hosted special mentorship programs. These programs are in partnership with The International Association of Blacks in Dance. They give young dancers a chance to learn from experienced professionals.
Chyrstyn has also written articles for dance blogs and magazines. In 2018, she wrote for Jai-Dee Dancewear's blog. She shared her thoughts and experiences as a Black ballet dancer. In 2020, she wrote an article for Pointe magazine. The article was titled "My Experience as a Black Ballerina in a World of Implicit Bias." In it, she talked about the history of racial discrimination and unfairness in ballet.
