March 25th 2024.
Misty Copeland, the pioneering ballerina, has consistently used her platform to advocate for Black and brown dancers in the ballet world. In a recent interview on the show Who's Talking with Chris Wallace, she opened up about her experiences as the only Black dancer in the studio and on stage throughout her career.
Reflecting on her time as the sole Black woman with the American Ballet Theatre for the first ten years of her professional journey, Copeland shared, "There were moments when I wasn't selected for certain roles because I stood out too much and it would disrupt the aesthetic, especially if it was being filmed." She vividly remembers feeling like the odd one out among her fellow dancers, particularly when they were all wearing pink-toned tights.
Her groundbreaking performance as the first Black "Odette/Odile" in Swan Lake was a significant milestone in her career. Copeland acknowledges the immense weight that came with this role, stating, "I think about the generational trauma that Black dancers carry when it comes to this role." Being cast in this iconic role was not without its challenges, as traditionally, the swans were portrayed by white dancers. Copeland revealed her concerns about how her "artistic excellence" could affect the chances of another Black dancer being given the opportunity to play this role in the future.
Admirably, Copeland has made these roles her own and brought her unique perspective to them. However, even as her fame in the industry grew, she still faced challenges and pressures. "They make you lighten your skin," she disclosed, revealing her conversations with the artistic staff and hair and makeup department at ABT. She questioned why the standard "matte" look had to equate to "white."
In her interview with CNN, Copeland also discussed the initiatives she has launched to promote diversity and inclusion in the ballet world. In 2023, she started the "MakeAPointe" petition, calling on Apple and the Unicode Consortium to expand the skin tone options for the pointe shoe emoji. This campaign aimed to celebrate the stories and shades of all ballet dancers. She also founded the "Be Bold" initiative in 2022, which provides ballet and music training, health education, tutoring, and mentorship to Black and Latino students at the Boys and Girls Clubs in New York City.
Copeland recognizes that progress in the ballet world goes beyond just being "the first" and acknowledges the achievements of other Black women in the industry. She hopes to continue pushing for change and evolving the conversation around diversity and representation in ballet.
The full interview with Misty Copeland is available on various streaming platforms, including Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Max.
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