The American Ballet Theatre has named Misty Copeland its principal dancer – the first time a black ballerina has held the prestigious role. She had been unusually outspoken about her desire to become the first black woman to be named a principal dancer at the American Ballet. “My fears are that it could be another two decades before another black woman is in the position that I hold with an elite ballet company,” she wrote in her 2014 memoir. “That if I don’t rise to principal, people will feel I have failed them.” In March, Ms Copeland told the BBC she thought it was important to talk about being a black woman in the very white world of American ballet. “It’s incredible to be a brown swan,” she said of her current role in Swan Lake. Her performance is already credited with bringing a new diverse audience to ballet. “In the racially under-represented world of ballet, Misty has already had an historic impact,” said Damian Woetzel, a former principal dancer for New York City Ballet. “Now, as a groundbreaking principal dancer, she will continue to inspire.”
Ave Maria rehearsal with Misty Copeland and Clifford Williams from karstenstaiger on Vimeo.