Lorraine Graves

Lorraine Graves was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia and attended Norfolk Public Schools graduating with honors from Lake Taylor High School. She began her classical ballet training at the age of 8 ½ under the direction of the late Gene Hammett at the Academy of the Norfolk Ballet where she was the first African-American student to be accepted into that school. She was later awarded full scholarships to the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Center.

Ms. Graves attended Indiana University at Bloomington, IN where she continued her dance training and completed a four-year program in three years earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ballet with Distinction. She began her professional career with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. There, she rose to the rank of Principal Dancer within one year. Three years later, she was given the additional duties as Ballet Mistress and later Regisseuse.

Ms. Graves had extensive teaching experience including, the North Carolina School of the Arts, The Governor’s School for the Arts in Richmond, Virginia where she was a guest instructor for 20 years, The Virginia School of the Arts in Lynchburg, Virginia, The Cornish Institute in Seattle, WA, The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, The South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts, The Virginia Ballet Theatre, The Flint Institute of Music, The Southeastern Regional Ballet Association and many others.

“Our region has given the world many great performers,” said Robert W. Cross, Virginia Arts Festival Executive Director “Lorraine Graves is a superb example—an extraordinary ballerina, and longtime principal with the legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ms. Graves had a distinguished career, performing around the world, and now shares her artistry and wisdom with young dancers in our region as well as nationally. We look forward to celebrating her achievements."