Hidden Figures: Lauren Anderson #BlackHERstoryMonth 28/28 (Patreon)

Hidden Figures: Lauren Anderson #BlackHERstoryMonth 28/28

If you enjoy my work, please consider supporting! CashApp: $SerenSensei Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/seren_sensei All Patrons get access to the Discord server! NEW MERCH SHOP: https://the-bheezebake-project.creator-spring.com Lauren Anderson (born February 19, 1965) is an American ballet dancer and a former principal dancer with the Houston Ballet. In 1990, she was one of the first Black American ballerinas to become a principal for a major dance company. She appeared in many ballets such as Don Quixote, Cleopatra, and The Nutcracker. She retired from the Houston Ballet in 2006 and retired from dance altogether in 2009. In 2016, Anderson had her pointe shoes from her final performance placed in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Anderson was born in Houston, Texas, on February 19, 1965, the only child of Lawrence Anderson and Doris Parker-Morales. Anderson initially took both dance and music lessons, intending to go into musical theater, but had to pick one due to the cost. She chose dance after her mother took her to a performance of Arthur Mitchell's Dance Theatre of Harlem Black ballet company, resolving to become a professional dancer. From the age of seven she trained at Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy. After starting lessons at the academy, Anderson performed in the ballet company's first production of The Nutcracker on December 28, 1972. She attended the Houston Independent School District and graduated from Lamar High School in 1982. Anderson joined the Houston Ballet in 1983 at age 18 in the corps de ballet, and she was promoted to soloist four years later. In 1990, she became the first Black American principal dancer at the Houston Ballet. She was only the second Black American female ballet dancer to be promoted to principal dancer at any major American ballet company, and during her career was the only Black American prima ballerina at the head of a major ballet company anywhere in the world. Anderson originated the role of Cleopatra in the ballet of the same name created by Ben Stevenson, and her performance garnered her critical acclaim and international fame. In 1990, Anderson was the recipient of the Special Jury Award at the International Ballet Competition, and she received the International Critics Award. She remained prima ballerina of the Houston Ballet for 16 years, dancing lead roles in such ballets as The Nutcracker, Cleopatra, and Don Quixote. After more than two decades as a dancer, Anderson retired from performance in 2006 at age 41. In January 2007, she became an outreach associate in the Houston Ballet's Education and Community Engagement program. She serves as the program manager, targeting underserved communities and overseeing more than 60,000 students and 19 programs every year. She also lectures on ballet and teaches ballet classes at Houston Ballet's academy and at schools in the Houston area. In 2016, Anderson had her pointe shoes from her final performance placed in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2017, she received the Texas Medal of Arts Awards in Dance. #HiddenFigures #LaurenAnderson ****************** Merchandise! MAKE SURE U GETTA SHIRT!! https://www.teepublic.com/user/sssseren https://www.shophouseof950.com/embroidery-tees/theblackamericans https://www.shophouseof950.com/embroidery-tees/dacs?rq=d.a.c.s Follow me on social media! Instagram: @sensei_aishitemasu Personal Tumblr: http://sensei-aishitemasu.tumblr.com Tumblr for my work: https://sssseren.tumblr.com Snapchat: sssseren GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/tc5wh7q ****************** Did you know I wrote a book? ☺️ 'So, About That... A Year of Contemporary Essays on Race and Pop Culture' Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/About-That-Contemporary-Essays-Culture-ebook/dp/B013V0CHK6 Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013V0CHK6 Digital download (e-book): https://gumroad.com/l/IkUa ****************** Links: https://www.laurenandersonofficial.com/ LAUREN ANDERSON: https://www.houstonballet.org/about/ece/teaching-artists/lauren-anderson/ Houston Ballet's Lauren Anderson readies her final bow: https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Houston-Ballet-s-Lauren-Anderson-readies-her-1850449.php LAUREN ANDERSON (1965- ):: https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/anderson-lauren-1965/ MEET LAUREN ANDERSON - THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRINCIPAL FOR THE HOUSTON BALLET: https://thesource.com/2019/02/26/meet-lauren-anderson-the-first-african-american-principal-for-the-houston-ballet/ As an African American Ballet Star, Lauren Anderson Inspired the Next Generation: https://www.themuse.com/advice/lauren-anderson-trailblazer-first-african-american-principal-dancer-houston-ballet Where Are All the Black Swans? https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/arts/dance/06kour.html