Lydia Abarca

Dance Theatre of Harlem

 

Lydia Abarca was born in Harlem in 1951. She studied at The Juilliard School and the Harkness School. While attending Fordham University, she was discovered by Arthur Mitchell and was asked to join Dance Theatre of Harlem. By the age of 19, she was dancing principal roles with the company. Her film and television credits include The Wiz and The Cotton Club. She was the first Black dancer on the cover of Dance Magazine in 1975.

See also:

Dance: Lydia Abarca is Back, The New York Times
It’s No Stretch to Call Lydia Abarca One of Ballet’s Most Under-Recognized Stars, People Magazine
Harlem’s Prima Ballerina Abarca: On the Brink of Stardom, The Washington Post
Lydia Abarca, Wikipedia