Debra Austin (dancer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Debra Austin
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| Born | July 25, 1955 United States
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| Education | Professional Children's School School of American Ballet |
| Occupation | Ballet dancer, Ballet master |
| Spouse(s) |
Marin Boieru
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 2 |
| Former groups | New York City Ballet Zurich Ballet Pennsylvania Ballet |
Debra Austin, born on July 25, 1955, is a famous American ballet dancer. She made history in 1982 when she became a principal dancer at the Pennsylvania Ballet. This made her the first African-American woman to reach this high rank in a major American ballet company. She was also the first African-American female dancer to join the New York City Ballet. Today, she works as a ballet mistress for the Carolina Ballet. This means she helps train and guide the dancers.
Contents
Debra Austin's Dance Journey
Starting Young
Debra Austin started dancing when she was just eight years old. By age twelve, she earned a special scholarship. This allowed her to train at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City. While studying dance, she also attended the Professional Children's School. This school helped her keep up with her regular studies.
Joining New York City Ballet
When she was sixteen, a very famous ballet leader named George Balanchine chose her. He invited her to join the New York City Ballet. This made her the first African-American female dancer in that company. Debra Austin even appeared on TV shows like Live from Lincoln Center on PBS. She also performed on the NBC special Live From Studio H.
Dancing in Europe
Later, Debra Austin left the New York City Ballet. She moved to Switzerland to dance for the Zurich Ballet. There, she was promoted to a soloist. A soloist is a dancer who often performs alone or in small groups.
Becoming a Principal Dancer
In 1982, Debra Austin returned to the United States. Her former dance friend, Robert Weiss, hired her. He was the artistic director of the Pennsylvania Ballet. He made her a principal dancer for the company. This was a huge achievement. It meant she was the first African-American woman to reach this top rank in a major American ballet company. This happened eight years before another famous dancer, Lauren Anderson, became a principal dancer.
At the Pennsylvania Ballet, Debra Austin performed in many famous ballets. These included Swan Lake, Coppélia, and Giselle. She also danced at a special show hosted by Bill Cosby. The musician Grover Washington played the saxophone during her performance.
After Her Performing Career
Debra Austin stopped performing as a dancer in 1990. She then began teaching ballet. She taught at several places, including the Miami City Ballet School. In 1997, Robert Weiss started the Carolina Ballet. He hired Debra Austin to be a ballet master there. She helps the dancers learn and perfect their moves.
Debra Austin's Family Life
Debra Austin married Marin Boieru, a Romanian ballet dancer, in 1992. They met while dancing together at the Pennsylvania Ballet. Today, both Debra and Marin work as ballet masters for the Carolina Ballet. They have two daughters named Olivia and Bianca.
