Misty Copeland broke barriers when she became the first African-American woman to become the principal dancer with the elite American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in its 75-year history. In order to give viewers a better glimpse of her rise to fame, PBS will air a special documentary on Monday (Feb. 8) called A Ballerina's Tale.
The Los Angeles native began studying ballet at the relatively late age of 13. Copeland was promoted from Corps de Ballet to soloist in 2007, earning her the title of first black dancer to hold the role with ABT in two decades. As Copeland continued to establish herself as a reputable dancer, she was simultaneously opening doors for young black girls who dreamed of entering and succeeding in the industry.
The upcoming film "intimately documents Copeland's historic rise while shining a light on the absence of women of color at major ballet companies," according to PBS. The documentary "also explores how ballet's emphasis on waifish bodies impacts the health of ballerinas while sending a negative message to young fans."
A photo posted by Misty Copeland (@mistyonpointe) on Jan 22, 2016 at 3:33pm PST
In 2012, she was offered the lead role in Igor Stravinsky's Firebird and later performed it at New York's Metropolitan Opera House. It was later revealed that the 33-year-old dancer was performing in extreme pain due to six fractures in her tibia. A Ballerina's Tale follows Copeland from the night of her performance, the journey to recovery, and beating the odds by making her way back to the stage in 2013.
The project not only details Copeland's path, but it also highlights the lack of diversity and weight issues in the ballet community. It's rare to see a black ballerina move up in the ranks of a prestigious dance company, let alone, gain further recognition and admiration from celebrities and others outside of the dance world.
Realizing the foundation she planted in ballet had an impact on the minds and lives of other aspiring ballerinas and ballerinos, impacted her life and decisions at great measure. Copeland transformed from a powerful dancer to a prominent social figure of change.
"The part of her story that A Ballerina's Tale reveals best is the role of a group of successful older black women who took her under their wings and helped her feel less alone," New York Times dance critic, Brian Seibert, wrote in his review. "This ballerina's tale is also theirs."
Misty Copeland's documentary, A Ballerina's Tale, is scheduled to air at 10 p.m. ET on PBS, as part of its Independent Lens series. It is brought to you by author and filmmaker, Nelson George.
