The Nutcracker is a beloved ballet that takes place in New York City every year during the holiday season for the people looking to get in the festive spirit. Because it’s a tradition, it usually stays the same for the most part. Everyone knows and loves the story of The Nutcracker.
But this year, for the first time ever, the lead role of Marie in “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” will be played by a black ballerina in The New York City Ballet’s production. The production began in 1954 — that means it took 65 years to make this progressive change.
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What makes this extra special is that the ballerina who is making history is only 11-years-old. Her name is Charlotte Nebres and this is a huge accomplishment for someone so young.
Nebres’ mother’s family is from Trinidad while her father’s family is from the Philippines. Nebres is a student at the School of American Ballet.
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The children’s ballet master at New York City Ballet, Dena Abergel, explained what she looks for in girls who are auditioning for the role to The New York Times: “When I’m looking for someone who can do Marie, I’m looking for someone primarily who has an ability to act on stage and to convey a story… It has to be someone who can command the stage and who has enough confidence and spontaneity to handle whatever comes her way.”
Charlotte’s mother was on her toes when she waited for her daughter to come out from the audition. “With that poker face of hers, she said, ‘Well, I’m Marie,’ And I just thought, oh my goodness — they really did it. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
When Charlotte found out she was the first black ballerina to take on her role, her response was nothing but logical. She said, “Wow. That seems a little late.” Don’t we know it!
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According to Abergel and her mother, Charlotte is very quiet and reserved in class. You wouldn’t think she would be such a performer but then on stage she completely comes alive. She is surprisingly so theatrical.
“I just thought, they picked the wrong child,” her mother confessed. “She is introverted in a way. But then when I saw her, I thought, okay, I’m the one that doesn’t know Charlotte.”
“I think that’s the most interesting thing about this experience for me. You don’t know what people are seeing in your child, and they are definitely seeing something in her,” Charlotte’s mom said.
When asked how Charlotte feels she relates to the character of Marie, she said: “Everyone experiences Christmas magic. She’s a girl on Christmas Eve and almost anyone can relate to that — being happy, getting a little doll and playing with your friends. I think of it as having Christmas every day. That’s the best way to think about it. It’s Christmas! Be happy.”
“It’s pretty amazing to be not only representing S.A.B., but also representing all of our cultures,” Charlotte said. “There might be a little boy or girl in the audience seeing that and saying, hey, I can do that, too.”
We’re rooting for you, Charlotte!
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