Celebrating a Black Trailblazing Ballerina

On Saturday, February 3, Misty Copeland received theGrio Award for Trailblazer Icon for breaking down walls in the world of ballet and making it more accessible for Black and brown people and doing so with style.

theGrio Awards honors icons, leaders and legends who have impacted the Black community and culture. In 2015, Misty became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States.

In her theGrio Awards speech, she said, “I am very much aware that I stand on the shoulders of countless trailblazers. It’s their courage, determination and resilience that have paved the way for my own accomplishments.”

We were very fortunate to have seen Misty dance in the past at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Her electrifying dancing is beyond words. The first time we saw her, she performed in a lead role. However, the second time, in 2017, she made a surprise appearance in a performance by the ABT in a supporting role.

Being on the sidelines doesn’t mean performers (nor team members) lack strength. Quite the contrary. There are several scenes in any ballet where dancers stand on the side of the stage for long periods of time. They are part of the scene as they wait and watch the principal dancers take center stage. They stand still. They hold their pose in perfect symmetry. They don’t call attention to themselves, yet their presence is critical to the scene. 

The world of dance, theatre, and the arts is no different from other workplaces. There are different roles we all play at work. Not everyone can be the star player—the one in the center of the stage with the focus on them—all of the time.  Most of us play supporting roles—the ones that don’t get standing ovations—but are, nevertheless, critical to the success of the organization. That doesn’t mean we can’t lead from any chair or role we are in at the moment.

Difficult as it is sometimes to stand on the sidelines, it’s an opportunity to learn and to observe the people or person who is center stage.  Misty, in a supporting part, sent a powerful message. She told the world she’s a member of the troupe and can support whomever has the lead role.

So, while she stands on the shoulders of countless trailblazers, Misty has the grace and dignity to stand on the sidelines when appropriate and not only let others take the spotlight, but support them as well. In doing so, she’s paving the way for others to not only follow, but to become stars in their own right. This is leadership.