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NYC Ballet casts first black Marie in 'The Nutcracker'

The 11-year-old ballerina says she remembers being inspired by Misty Copeland becoming the first African American female principal at American Ballet Theater.
Tanner Quirk and Charlotte Nebres in New York City Ballet's production of George Balanchine's \"The Nutcracker.\"
Tanner Quirk and Charlotte Nebres in New York City Ballet's production of George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker."Erin Baiano / New York City Ballet
By Associated Press

NEW YORK — The New York City Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” has cast a black dancer to play Marie for the first time.

The New York Times reports Charlotte Nebres will star in this year’s rendition of the company’s production, which started in 1954

Charlotte Nebres and fellow School of American Ballet students in New York City Ballet's production of George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker."
Charlotte Nebres and fellow School of American Ballet students in New York City Ballet's production of George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker."Erin Baiano / New York City Ballet

Nebres is a student at the School of American Ballet. Her mother’s family is from Trinidad and her father’s family is from the Philippines.

The 11-year-old Nebres says she remembers being inspired by Misty Copeland becoming the first African-American female principal at American Ballet Theater.

Nebres will be joined by a diverse group of young leads.

Nebres’ Prince, Tanner Quirk, is half-Chinese. Sophia Thomopoulos, who will also play Marie, is half-Korean, half-Greek. Sophia’s Prince will be played by Kai Misra-Stone, who is half-South Asian.