Billy Wilson and Philadelphia Guild Ballet School 

When Billy Wilson was 15, he was offered a scholarship to study at the School under Tudor, and stayed with the company for two years before leaving to make his debut on Broadway.  Established in the mid 1950s by Antony Tudor, the Philadelphia Ballet Guild offered a place for few black students to learn ballet amid the bustling artistry of Philadelphia.  The company was considered a “forerunner” to the Pennsylvania Ballet (now called Philadelphia Ballet) and “experimental,” performing pieces with political themes.

Sources:

Great Performances: Free To Dance – Biographies – William Adolphus Wilson, Thirteen: Media with Impact
Marion Cuyjet & Betty Nichols’ Orbit: Antony Tudor,  MOBBallet

 

More about Philadelphia Guild Ballet

To understand the legacy of the Philadelphia Ballet Guild and the incredible opportunities it provided for many Black dancers, we have to talk about Philadelphia in the 20th century. Philadelphia was “Black central,” meaning that it was a place where you saw Black individuals the most. It was a place that was racial progressive. The public schooling systems were not segregated and at the time, the arts were everywhere. Many public school educators hosted clubs for the arts in an effort to encourage the younger generation in arts. There were art clubs, drama clubs, voice clubs, and dance clubs, all hosted by faculty. 

In terms of dance studios, Black students were generally not allowed to train at the white studios in Philadelphia.  Antony Tudor broke that cultural divide by training many Black dancers in his classes, fostering an environment of inclusivity and setting this example for his white dancers.  Hence, the school provided incredible opportunities for Black dancers that may not have happened otherwise.

Sources:

Marion Cuyjet & Betty Nichols’ Orbit: Marion Cuyjet, Antony Tudor, and The Philadelphia Ballet Guild, MOBBallet 
Why Philadelphia Was an Early Hub For Black Ballerinas, Dance Magazine

 

Anna Owens