Guadalupe Martínez Desfassiaux Serrano known professionally as Lupe Serrano, was a Chilean-born, Mexican-trained American ballet dancer and teacher who danced and dazzled audiences during her 18 years with American Ballet Theater. Serrano was born in Santiago, Chile. Her parents signed her up for dance classes at age 4 or 5 and in 1944 at age 13 she began to dance professionally with the Mexico City Ballet. In 1953 she joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1953, becoming the company’s first Hisp... moreGuadalupe Martínez Desfassiaux Serrano known professionally as Lupe Serrano, was a Chilean-born, Mexican-trained American ballet dancer and teacher who danced and dazzled audiences during her 18 years with American Ballet Theater. Serrano was born in Santiago, Chile. Her parents signed her up for dance classes at age 4 or 5 and in 1944 at age 13 she began to dance professionally with the Mexico City Ballet. In 1953 she joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1953, becoming the company’s first Hispanic principal dancer. Ms. Serrano retired from dancing in 1971, turning to teaching. She taught ballet for 5 decades at colleges and dance schools in Wisconsin, Illinois and Pennsylvania while conducting master classes at companies such as the San Francisco Ballet, the Minnesota Dance Theatre, the Cleveland Ballet, and the Washington Ballet.
