A 17-year old Davidson high school senior is making history along the gulf coast, reports MyNBC15. Mobile ballet will present “the Princess and the Frog” in production in less than three weeks at the Saenger theater. When the doors open, it will debut its first African American lead dancer, since Mobile ballet opened its doors in 1987. Victoria Blakely will debut as Princess Tiana.
“I feel this is a big opportunity for me and dancers that are younger than me to look up and say I can be her one day,” Blakely said. “”Ballet and dance in general is for everyone. I thought it was very important that Mobile ballet have its first African American performing lead role,” said Katia Garza, artistic director for Mobile ballet. She said when she approached the board about doing the Princess and the Frog, there was excitement, and she knew she had to do it with a Mobile twist. “Instead of New Orleans why not celebrate Mardi Gras here in Mobile, so our scenery made by Ron Bollard is here in Mobile. Tiana our lead dancer is going to be dancing in downtown so it’s exciting to have a new ballet made just for Mobile city.”
After graduation, Blakely says she plans to audition for a national ballet dance company. “The Princess and the Frog” opens at the Saenger theater in Mobile October 16th.
