The first Asian American soloist for the New York City Ballet makes several stunning allegations of a sexual nature in her new memoir, reports the New York Times.
Georgina Pazcoguin father is Filipino and her mother is Italian, according to Hebergementwebs.
In the book, she accuses Peter Martins, the company’s former leader of being a psychological abuser. Martins did not respond to the Times request for comment.
Pazcoguin also writes in Swan Dive: The Making of a Rogue Ballerina that Amar Ramasar, a principal male dancer often greeted her by snuggling close to her and saying “‘You look fine today,’ eyes locked on my chest, and then he’d zero in on the goal at hand by — surprise! — tweaking my nipples.”
Ramasar wrote in an email to the Times that “I flatly deny this allegation.”
The Daily Mail reports Pazcoguin has held the position of soloist since 2013 and first joined the New York City Ballet in 2003.
She wrote in her book that Jean-Pierre Frohlich, the company’s director, once commented during a rehearsal to imagine women walking around in tank tops and short dresses.
‘It’s amazing more women aren’t raped these days.’” she quoted Frohlich as saying, according to The Times. Frohlich had no comment other than to say he hadn’t read the book.
Pazcoquin has worked with Phil Chan on a project to rid the ballet of outdated depictions of Asians in a project called Final Bow for Yellowface.
She returns to the company for rehearsals on August 3 for the fall season.
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