Black Dance History Month — Inspiring Dancers Who Broke Through Barriers

Written By Dawn Davis Loring

Matching dancers and students with dance professionals who share their birthday is an excellent way to foster connection with the history of dance. To celebrate Black History Month, here are a few inspiring dancers born in February who broke through barriers to pursue a career in dance.

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Born February 2, 1935, ballerina Raven Wilkinson (1935–2018) began dancing with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1955, becoming the first African American woman to dance for a major ballet company. She performed with the company for six years and for the Dutch National Ballet until 1974, when she returned to the United States to perform for the New York City Opera until 2011.

Tap dancing legend Gregory Hines (1946–2003) celebrated his birthday on Valentine’s Day. His career included both Broadway shows, such as Sophisticated Ladies in 1981 and Jelly’s Last Jam in 1992, and films, such as White Nights in 1985 (alongside ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov) and the 1989 movie Tap, which featured several generations of tap dancers. Hines advocated for the creation of National Tap Dance Day in 1989, now celebrated annually on May 25, and his image is featured on a postage stamp issued in January 2019.