Debra Austin
Debra Austin was the very first African American ballerina to receive a principal dancer contract with a major American Ballet company in 1982 with the Pennsylvania Ballet. There she danced the principal roles in SWAN LAKE, GISELLE, COPPELIA, and LA SYLPHIDE. Dancing these roles with a white partner was a further breakthrough. Before that time, starting in 1974, Ms. Austin was dancing principal and solo roles in George Balanchine’s NEW YORK CITY BALLET. Balanchine himself choreographed solos for her as did John Clifford who gave her her first principal role in his ballet BARTOK #3 which was noticed by the NY Times as an historical first for that company.