Houston Ballet.

Last December, long-time principal Lauren Anderson retired from the Houston Ballet, giving a final performance of her signature Sugar Plum Fairy. "Retiring has been looming over me for some time now," she says. "I thought I would retire when I had a baby, then I just kept going. The time feels right. I will not miss the daily grind but I will miss being able to tell a story without talking."

Anderson has spent her entire career with the Houston Ballet and witnessed the transformation of the company into a nationally known troupe over the course of her 24 years. She names Ben Stevenson (artistic director from 1976 to 2003) as a key figure in her growth.

When Anderson, 41, was promoted in 1990, she became the first African-American principal of a predominantly white ballet company. "Katherine Dunham and Virginia Johnson opened the door," remarks Anderson about her unique position in dance history. "I just kept the light on."

She excelled at dramatic roles including Kitri in Don Quixote, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and Myrta in Giselle. Stevenson gives her credit for bringing the company to a new level. "She is one of the individuals who helped make Houston Ballet what it is today," says Stevenson. In 2000, Stevenson created the ballet Cleopatra especially for her. "She had to carry the weight of that entire ballet on her shoulders," remembers Stevenson. "She had the right combination of strength and regality." Other works created for Anderson include Glen Tetley's Lux in Tenebris (1999) and David Rousseve's Simple Gifts (1999).

Of her partnerships, Anderson says she especially enjoyed working with Carlos Acosta, Dominic Walsh, and Scan Kelly. "She has such a calming energy onstage; there was always a sense of ease between us," Kelly says. "When it came to performance, she pulled out all the stops." Acosta, now at The Royal Ballet, says. "Lauren is an example of how talent can overcome every obstacle you might find along the way. I feel so lucky to have shared some of the most precious experiences of my career with her."

Anderson will continue working at Houston Ballet as outreach associate. She also plans to dance and teach on a freelance basis. She is married to jazz saxophonist Kyle Turner and looks forward to spending more time with her 3-year-old son, Lawrence. "Dancing with Houston Ballet was my first and only job," says Anderson. "I am looking forward to job number two."