Lauren Anderson makes history by changing ballet forever

After seeing the Nutcracker for the first time at age 6, Lauren Anderson fell in love with ballet.  A few months later, she started training at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy. That same year, she performed in “The Nutcracker” for the first time.

Seven years after joining the Houston Ballet, she was promoted to principal dancer. She became the first American Black principal dancer and made history as the world’s only Black prima ballerina.

She retired at 41 years old after performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” a role she held for more than 20 years.

– Jacqueline Gualtieri, The Houston 100