National Civil Rights Museum - #OnThisDay in 1951 ballerina Janet Collins became the first African-American ballerina to appear with the Metropolitan Opera Company. She stayed with the Metropolitan Opera Company until 1955.
National Women's History Museum - Maria Tallchief was a Native-American dancer and one of America's leading ballerinas from the 40's to the 60's. In 1947, she became the first prima ballerina of
![Maria Tallchief, America's first prima ballerina, continues to inspire new generations of Native American dancers | CNN Maria Tallchief, America's first prima ballerina, continues to inspire new generations of Native American dancers | CNN](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/231114113536-03-native-american-ballerinas.jpg?c=original)
Maria Tallchief, America's first prima ballerina, continues to inspire new generations of Native American dancers | CNN
![English: Photograph of Pierina Legnani (1863-1923), Prima ballerina assoluta of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres. She is costumed for the first act of the original production of the choreographer Marius Petipa (1818-1910) English: Photograph of Pierina Legnani (1863-1923), Prima ballerina assoluta of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres. She is costumed for the first act of the original production of the choreographer Marius Petipa (1818-1910)](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/P81YG0/english-photograph-of-pierina-legnani-1863-1923-prima-ballerina-assoluta-of-the-st-petersburg-imperial-theatres-she-is-costumed-for-the-first-act-of-the-original-production-of-the-choreographer-marius-petipa-1818-1910-the-composer-alexander-glazunovs-1865-1936-1898-ballet-raymonda-1898-310-pierina-legnani-in-raymonda-act-i-1898-P81YG0.jpg)