Raven Wilkinson, American ballerina, Died at 83

Raven Wilkinson was born on February 2, 1935 and died on December 17, 2018.

She was an American dancer who is credited with having been the first African-American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company. She broke the color barrier in 1955 when she signed a contract to dance full-time with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

Wilkinson was promoted to soloist during her second season with the troupe, and remained with the company for six years. Later after she became a mentor to American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland, presenting Copeland with the 2014 Dance Magazine Award.

Wilkinson did not stay in retirement long. When she returned to New York, the New York City Opera asked her to dance. She performed with them from 1974 until 1985. Wilkinson went on with the opera as a character dancer and actor until 2011 when the company disbanded.

Additionally her acting credits is the role of Malla in Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music (1990–1991). Wilkinson also played the role of Bloody Mary's assistant in a Broadway revival of South Pacific in 1987.

Raven Wilkinson passed away at 83 years old.