Black History Month: Movie Screening

To honor Black History Month, join the City of Issaquah at the Issaquah Depot Museum for a screening of the documentary A Ballerina’s Tale (2015) directed by Nelson George. Following the documentary, participate in a community conversation on representation of Black/African American men and women in various fields, especially corporate settings, and government. Tickets are free but due to the limited number of seats, registration is required. Rated G.

Film Background

Few dancers reach the elite level of ballet; of that already small number only a fraction are black women. Misty Copeland shattered those barriers in 2015, making history as the first African American principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre (ABT).

A Ballerina’s Tale intimately documents Copeland’s historic rise while shining a light on the absence of women of color at major ballet companies. The film also explores how ballet’s emphasis on waifish bodies impacts the health of ballerinas while sending a negative message to young fans.

Born in Kansas City, and raised in San Pedro, California, Misty Copeland did not begin studying ballet until the relatively late age of 13. In 2000, she joined the ABT’s Studio Company, and the following year became a member of ABT’s Corps de Ballet. She continued to rise within the company, becoming a soloist in August 2007. In 2013, she was offered the lead role in Igor Stravinsky’s challenging Firebird, to be performed at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, a major coup for a soloist. In 2015, she became the first African American female principal dancer with the ABT.

More information available here