Llanchie Stevenson facts for kids

Llanchie Stevenson, whose birth name was Rosemary Llanchie Stevenson, is a famous American ballet dancer. She made history as the first African-American dancer at the Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company. She was also the first African-American female dancer at the National Ballet of Washington. Llanchie was a founding member and a main dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She stopped dancing professionally when she became a Muslim.

Becoming a Dancer

Early Dance Training

Rosemary Llanchie Stevenson started her dance journey at the Bernice Johnson Dance Studio. She later joined the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. There, she focused on classical ballet.

At first, she was told to switch to modern dance because of her race. But her father wanted her to follow her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. So, she was able to continue her classical ballet studies.

Joining Alvin Ailey

After finishing high school at age seventeen, Llanchie took a class at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The famous dancer Alvin Ailey noticed her talent. He invited her to join his professional dance company.

She toured with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as a modern dancer. However, Alvin Ailey encouraged her to keep practicing ballet. He also told her to keep up her pointe shoe training.

Dancing at Radio City Music Hall

Alvin Ailey suggested Llanchie try out for the ballet company at Radio City Music Hall. She auditioned and was asked to practice her fouettés (a type of ballet turn). Two weeks later, she auditioned again and was accepted.

Llanchie became the first African-American dancer at the Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company. Because of her race, new dance roles were created just for her. This was because traditional ballet often did not have roles for Black dancers.

Breaking Barriers in Ballet

Studying at School of American Ballet

Llanchie left Radio City Music Hall to study at the School of American Ballet. She hoped to join the New York City Ballet. She received a scholarship and studied there for two years.

Many of her classmates joined the New York City Ballet, but Llanchie was not offered a spot. She asked George Balanchine, who directed both the school and the ballet company, about her chances. Balanchine said that while an African-American male dancer, Arthur Mitchell, was in the company, they were not ready for a woman of color. He felt a Black woman would "break the corps line" (meaning she would stand out too much in the group of dancers).

Joining National Ballet of Washington

Llanchie then auditioned for the National Ballet of Washington, led by Frederic Franklin. She was accepted into the corps de ballet (the group of dancers who perform together). At that time, she was the only African-American dancer in the company.

Becoming a Principal Dancer

After dancing with the National Ballet of Washington for a few years, Llanchie was contacted by Arthur Mitchell. He had left the New York City Ballet and started his own company, the Dance Theatre of Harlem. He asked her to join.

Llanchie became a founding member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She was also the company's first principal dancer (a lead dancer). She performed many important roles, including a main part in Balanchine's Concerto Barocco. She toured with the company and performed at places like Jacob's Pillow Dance.

While at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Llanchie started a new trend. She wore brown tights over her pink tights. This helped other dancers of color feel more comfortable wearing brown tights and pointe shoes, changing a long-standing tradition of only pink.

Life After Dance

Conversion to Islam

Llanchie began to feel discouraged when she wasn't getting the roles she wanted at Dance Theatre of Harlem. She thought it might be because of her weight. She started reading a book called How to Eat to Live by Elijah Muhammad. This book helped her with weight loss and also inspired her with its messages about Islam.

After losing weight, she started getting her desired roles again. Reading about Allah in Muhammad's book led her to attend meetings of the Nation of Islam. She felt a strong connection to their teachings and practices. She officially changed her religion from Christianity to Islam and changed her name to Aminah. Later, she and her husband left the Nation of Islam and joined mainstream Islam.

Retirement from Dancing

Traditional Islamic teachings suggest that women should not perform in public or dance uncovered in front of men. Because of this, Llanchie Stevenson decided to retire from ballet.

After retiring, she taught ballet and gymnastics to Muslim girls. Her focus was on teaching discipline and physical health. She did not aim to train them for professional dance careers.