Misty Copeland.
Misty Copeland made history in June when she became the first black woman in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history to be promoted to principal dancer, and a forthcoming documentary will look at what she had to endure to get there. The trailer for A Ballerina’s Tale shows a glimmer of the prejudice Copeland has had to face in order to make it to the top: “I don’t think that the classical ballet world will ever accept me,” Copeland explains. “I’m black. I have a large chest. I’m muscular.” But 22 years of fighting for the spot and she’s more than made it. How many grande jetés do you think she’s had to perfect since she started?
The IFC Films documentary releases on October 14.