In full: Anne Raven Wilkinson (Show more) Born: February 2, 1935, Harlem, Manhattan, New York, U.S. (Show more) Died: December 17, 2018, Manhattan, New York (Show more) Raven Wilkinson (born February 2, 1935, Harlem, Manhattan, New York, U.S.—died December 17, 2018, Manhattan, New York) was an American dancer who became the first Black woman to dance with a major classical ballet company. Wilkinson was interested in dance from a young age. After her mother, who had studied ballet, took her at age five to see the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo perform Coppélia, Wilkinson decided that she also wanted to learn ballet. At age nine she began taking lessons at the Swoboda School (later Ballet Russe School) with Madam Maria Swoboda, a well-known dancer from the Bolshoi ...(100 of 599 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!