Girl first African-American children's lead in Cincinnati Ballet's 'The Nutcracker'

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Thursday is opening night at Music Hall for “The Nutcracker,” a Cincinnati Ballet Christmas tradition more than four decades old.

For the first time ever, the children’s principal dancer, the part of Clara, will be performed by an African-American girl. Salome Tregre is tip-toeing into history, but this was no stroke of luck.

It’s finals week for the eighth graders at Walnut Hills. For 13-year-old Salome, this week carries some extra anxiety, what with algebra, history and Latin. And then there’s art.

“She’s one of those people that just had a little spark and a shining way of presenting herself that really caught our eye,” said Suzette Boyer Webb, the Cincinnati Ballet Second Company’s director.

Salome was 3-years-old when she put on the tights and began dancing.

“You just realize that this was something that I really love; this is just something that I want to do for the rest of my life. It’s an amazing art; it’s just breathtaking for me,” Salome said.

Salome’s mom, Ebony Tregre’s response when she found out her daughter was going to be the children’s lead in “The Nutcracker?”

“What the hell?!” she laughed.

Appropriate from Ebony since Salome almost didn’t try out. Ebony had a stroke just a month before tryouts at one of Salome’s recitals.

“I couldn’t move my left side; I was paralyzed. I couldn’t talk because I was intubated. I wasn’t supposed to survive that day,” Ebony said.

Understandably, Salome had lost her focus for ballet during that time, but her mom fought back, regained motion on her left side and found her voice–and her calendar. Salome would be trying out.

And she got it.

“We picked her because she’s driven, and she’s smart, and she’s vibrant, and she’s a good worker, and she sets a good example,” said Victoria Morgan, the Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic director. “To say we picked her because she’s African-American is doing her a disservice.”

Morgan says they definitely made a good choice.

“I used to organize a group of girls to go watch “Nutcracker,” Ebony said. “They would not see anyone who represented who they are, and so for my daughter to be the lead role in that show–if there’s another group of girls that look like her [and] see her, they can see the possibility for themselves. I think that’s why it’s important.”

Salome says having her parents there will mean a lot.

“They supported me through tons and tons of things. To have them there–it’s wonderful,” she said.

Who would have thought a 13-year-old could make a Latin final seem like child’s play?

On July 30, 2015, Misty Copeland was named the first African-American principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. You might want to mark down December 14th, 2017 on your historical dance calendar as well.

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