Georgina Pazcoguin

Georgina Pazcoguin, recognized in the dance industry as "The Rogue Ballerina," is a dancer, activist, author, and producer who became the first Asian American female soloist in New York City Ballet history. Pazcoguin joined New York City Ballet and was later promoted to soloist, marking a milestone for representation in ballet. Over a two-decade tenure with the company, she performed featured roles in original productions including "Romeo + Juliet," "Ocean's Kingdom," and Alexei Ratmansky's "Voices," as well as in revivals such as George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" as Dewdrop, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as Hippolyta, and Jerome Robbins' "West Side Story Suite" as Anita. Since her debut in the role, Pazcoguin has been noted for her interpretation of Anita in "West Side Story Suite."

Pazcoguin's career extends beyond ballet to Broadway, television, and film. She made her Broadway debut in the revival of "On the Town" and later appeared as Victoria the White Cat in the revival of "Cats." Her work in "Cats" earned her a Chita Rivera Award nomination for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show. Pazcoguin has also been featured in Ben Stiller's "Severance" and FX's "Fosse/Verdon." Her mentors include Broadway and dance figures Chita Rivera, Donna McKechnie, and Carmen de Lavallade.

As an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the performing arts, Pazcoguin co-founded "Final Bow for Yellowface" with Phil Chan, a campaign addressing Asian stereotypes in ballet productions such as "The Nutcracker." The initiative has influenced industry leaders and organizations, including Paris Opera Ballet, to adopt more inclusive practices. Pazcoguin's advocacy was recognized by the Kennedy Center's NEXT 50 program.

Pazcoguin authored the memoir "Swan Dive: The Making of a Rogue Ballerina," which explores her experiences navigating ballet as a woman of color and addresses issues such as body image and identity in the dance world.

After her tenure with New York City Ballet, Pazcoguin joined a group of Filipino producers on the musical "Here Lies Love," with music by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, which explores the story of Imelda Marcos. She remains active as a dancer, actress, and advocate, with stage appearances including the revival of "Nine" at the Kennedy Center. Pazcoguin's work continues to impact ballet, Broadway, and the broader performing arts community, focusing on representation, inclusion, and the evolution of the arts.