Gabe Stone Shayer

Gabe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From a very young age, Gabe began choreographing and performing his own solo works in various venues and with numerous regional dance schools and companies. At age 13 he was offered the lead role in the world premiere of a modern ballet, “Darfur,” as a guest principal with the Rebecca Davis Dance Company, which subsequently toured the U.S.Gabe has taken part in the Youth America Grand Prix international finals; in 2009, he earned a place in the top 12 with his pas de deux, and in 2010 he won the grand prix award in the semi-finals and was a finalist at YAGP’s New York International Competition.
Gabe was offered invitations and scholarships from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at the American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Washington Ballet, Houston Ballet, Kirov Academy, Ellison Ballet and many more. He received numerous scholarships, most notably with The John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany, and the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco. He also attended the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Program in New York, winning first place, which enabled him to study in Moscow for one month and to perform a variation at the academy’s gala.

Gabe is the first black American in history to graduate from the Bolshoi Academy and the first black dancer in the world to have the honor of performing both a solo and a principal role on the Bolshoi stage.

While attending the American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Program in New York, Gabe was invited to join the newly formed ABT Studio Company.