From the GWDC archive · 2015
New Trailer for Misty Copeland Documentary Discusses Issues of Race in the Arts…
Preserved from our original website. Dates, roles and event details reflect the time of publication.
In the following video trailer for Nelson George’s documentary A Ballerina’s Tale, Misty Copeland—who in June became the first black principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater—talks about the familiar feeling of isolation in an arts industry not always known for its inclusion.
“I’m a black dancer,” says Copeland in the clip. “That’s who I am. It’s so much a part of my story.” The film, which hits theaters on October 14, takes a closer look at her obsession with dance since age 13 and her now historic status in the ballet world, including her well-known struggles.
“Based on my body type, pedigree and background, I should not have been part of one of the world’s greatest ballet companies,” she says. Gracefully, she’s proved all these preconceptions wrong.