Jonathan Batista has made history by becoming the first Black principal dancer in the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Last year, he became part of the organization as a soloist. In an interview with KUOW, he says that having the highest rank as a ballet dancer means a lot for both him and the Black community:
“Being the first Black dancer in 50 years of Pacific Northwest Ballet, this is a moment for young Black boys, young Black girls, that want to dance, that want to see themselves on that stage...It is such an honor to be in this position. It also is a moment where I think, ‘Wow, it took 50 years for [a] Black man, for [a] Black person, to become a principal dancer.’”
Batista originally hails from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and has performed with companies from all over the world. Often, he is the only Black member of the company. The Pacific Northwest Ballet, which is based in Seattle, has a total of 46 dancers—only nine of them (including Batista) identify as Black.
