Raven Wilkinson and Victoria Beller Smith
Victoria Beller Smith is a childhood friend of Raven Wilkinson. As a native New Yorker, Smith met Wilkinson in middle school and attended Ethical Culture’s Fieldston Campus School (located in Riverdale, the Bronx) together before Wilkinson transferred to Professional Children’s School due to needing a school with an increased focus on the performing arts. At this school, they were required to take modern dance classes. Smith began her training at Ballet Arts, performed with the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas Company for two years, and with the American Festival Ballet (a Europe-based American company). Smith described Wilkinson as “gracious and has a wonderful intelligence.” She also shared that Wilkinson has a glass-half-full attitude with the ability to find the positive amidst challenges, and this most likely helped her endure many challenges as a Black ballerina.
Source:
Thandi Steele
