Lupe Serrano (1930–2023), ballerina who danced with Nureyev
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2 min readLupe Serrano was a prima ballerina with the renowned American Ballet Theatre.
- Died: January 16, 2023 (Who else died on January 16?)
- Details of death:Died in Syosset, New York of complications from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 92.
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Ballerina
Born in Chile, Serrano later moved to Mexico with her family, and it was there that she made her professional debut with the Mexico City Ballet. After receiving great acclaim in Mexico, she relocated to New York City and joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a featured soloist. In 1953, Serrano became a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, the first Latina to hold that position there. She would remain with the company until her 1971 retirement as prima ballerina. She toured the world with the American Ballet Theatre, gaining the admiration of exacting Russian audiences and catching legendary dancer Rudolf Nureyev’s attention. After his 1961 defection to the U.S., he invited Serrano to dance with him, and they performed together on TV and on stage. After her retirement from dance, Serrano became a respected teacher at institutions including the National Academy of Arts and the Washington Ballet. Her students included first daughter Chelsea Clinton and actress Lea Thompson.
Tributes to Lupe Serrano
Full obituary: The New York Times
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