Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) announced through its website on Wednesday (July 1) the promotion of Filipina-American ballerina Stella Abrera to principal dancer of the company.
Abrera’s promotion makes her the first Filipino-American principal in the company’s 75-year history.
Born in Manila, Abrera first started studying dance at the age of five and in 1995, she received the Gold Medal at the Royal Academy of Dancing’s Adeline Genée Awards in London.
Abrera first joined ABT as a member of its corps de ballet in 1996 and was named a soloist in 2001.
She has also performed as a guest artist with various companies across Europe and the United States, as well as the Australian Ballet, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and Ballet Philippines.
Abrera is also the founder of her own charitable organization called ‘Steps forward for the Philippines’, a group dedicated to providing for the educational and creative needs of children in the Philippines.
