Gilbert Bolden III, a dancer with the New York City Ballet, was among the VIP guests at a party held at Lincoln Center in New York on 1/10. He donned a self-made mermaid gown, creatively fashioned from a white shirt and accented with a black tie wrapped around his body. The dancer's extremely high heels made navigating the red carpet difficult.
According to Pagesix, nearly a week after the event, videos capturing Bolden posing on the red carpet continue to circulate widely across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. These clips have attracted millions of views and thousands of likes. Public opinion is split: some commend his creativity, while others find the attire strange and humorous. Many speculate that his heels measured 20-30 cm in height.
Gilbert Bolden III was born in San Diego, California, and began his journey in dance at nine years old in Las Vegas, Nevada.
His professional ballet training commenced in 2011 at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. He then refined his skills at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2013. By 2014, he was accepted into the School of American Ballet, the official training institution for the New York City Ballet (NYCB).
 |
Dancer Gilbert Bolden III in his daily life. Photo: Instagram Gilbert Bolden |
In 8/2017, Bolden joined NYCB as an apprentice, becoming a corps de ballet member a year later. During his apprenticeship, he made an impression as Mother Ginger in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker and performed a prominent role in choreographer Gianna Reisen's Composer’s Holiday. He became a principal dancer for the company in 2/2025.
Beyond his talent, Bolden possesses diverse interests. He embraces unconventional fashion, blending masculine and feminine aesthetics. According to Pointe magazine, he enjoys conceptualizing and tailoring evening wear that incorporates corsets and voluminous bustier dresses. He is passionate about wearing heels measuring tens of centimeters to make a distinct statement. He often spontaneously combines items, such as an oversized Target T-shirt with a Uniqlo mini skirt, Calvin Klein boots, and a pink Telfar bag.
By Hoa Mi (via Pagesix, Pointe)
