By Theresa Ruth Howard
There was an undeniable crackle in the air on the evening of June 12, 2012 at the Metropolitan Opera House. Soloist Misty Copeland was poised to dance her New York City debut in the title role of the Firebird in American Ballet Theater’s decadent new production choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky. The energy of the lobby was charged, but the most notable difference was the overall hue of the theatregoers that particular evening. A cornucopia of sepia-toned people dressed in their Sunday best came from far and wide to support Copeland in this triumph. Professional dancers from all genres were as giddy as the little brown ballet students who had come to glimpse what could be their future. Even those who would normally put out their left eye before sitting through a night at the ballet had come to watch. Though the first half of the program was stellar, we all “endured” it, and the seemingly unending intermission, anxiously awaiting the first chords of Stravinsky’s haunting score and the rising of the curtain revealing the history-making moment.
It was back in 2009 that Copeland’s star began to shimmer more brightly, with the help of musical genius Prince. He featured her in his Crimson and Clover video and then made her his “muse”, and affluent African-American ABT supporters championed her cause. With newfound visibility and support, Copeland began to gain well-deserved recognition. Two years prior, New York Times writer Gia Kourlas posited a well-formed question in her article entitled Where are all the Black Ballerinas?. The article sparked great debate. Round tables and forums were assembled to discuss the extinction of the species. Copeland was the perfect answer to that very question, because if artistic director Kevin McKenzie were to promote her to the rank of principal, she would be the First African-American female in history to hold that position. There is much talk of “history” making when it comes to Misty, such that Copeland has become herself like a Firebird, a mythical creature, one so rarely glimpsed that it is hard to prove that it even exists.
Let us take a moment to deconstruct the construction of “The Myth” itself. The crafting of a myth is a curious thing. The very first ingredient you need to ensure that your myth has a place to bed is the inherent lack of something, a longing, a void that needs so desperately to be filled that people are willing to do or believe anything to fill it. The desperation is so great that they pay little attention to what is filling it, but focus only on the joy that the desire has been sated. With that established, we can now begin. The way to ensure the stability of your myth is to base it in a pinch of truth. It matters little how aqueous it might be; after all, this truth is merely a structure through which a bit of fantasy will be woven, such that you can hardly tell where the original truth begins and the other ends. It is the blurring of borders with material akin to the authentic matter, but with just a bit of shimmer added to distract the viewer from the transition. A proper balance of plausibility and sparkle must be present for a myth to take hold and thrive, just a pinch. It must be just real enough, and just fantastic enough, to be magical. One must be entranced, bewitched. It must feel comfortable and oddly familiar at once, so as not to evoke a questioning of the tale. Hence, it is not just the teller who must be committed. The listener must also agree to suspend disbelief. The two parties are complicit in giving the myth weight, thus anchoring the tale to the ground.
The mythologization of Misty was not born of mendacity. Quite the opposite. By all accounts, its nascent root is somewhat altruistic. What could be the problem with giving little brown girls who want to be ballerinas someone to look up too? Nothing at all, although it is the “oneness” that has become problematic, except that as awareness of Copeland grew (as did her endorsements), others in the field, both present and past, were muffled and then muted, until their existence was being slowly smudged away. It’s true (the grain of truth) that for a long period of time, the presence of the black ballerina has been all but nonexistent. It is important to note that in 2007, when Kourlas wrote the article Where are all the Black Ballerinas?, it had already been 3 years since The Dance Theatre of Harlem had disbanded. Subsequently, the nest that had begotten a great number of ballerinas of color had been effectively swatted from the tree. Those dancers that were left all scattered. Now, due to the inherent racism in the ballet world (I said it, we know it, it’s real, we are big enough to call it for what it is), few of them found ballet companies willing to hire them. Alas, some went to Broadway or to contemporary companies. Many landed at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where you can still see them performing today. Some ventured to Europe. The point is, there were black ballerinas. Dance Theater of Harlem was like a hothouse for them. Dancers of color were drawn to it like sailors to a siren’s song. There was a deep and fecund history of them before Misty was born, and before she became a household name, but you would never know it by the way the narrative is being written. When DTH’s company closed, it was like the Men in Black pushed the pen light. All was forgotten. The truth behind the myth is that Misty is walking on a path that, though overgrown from lack of use, was cleared before her – but you would never know it (unless you know it).
The truth behind the myth is that Misty is walking on a path that, though overgrown from lack of use, was cleared before her, but you would never know it (unless you know it)
The mythologization of Copeland’s story, her journey and the glorification of her achievements (which have been great and many) are not the problem. She deserves the accolades. The issue is that when the narrative assigns Copeland with the title of “only”, and often “first” in many instances, it is inaccurate. Here is where the construction of the myth kicks in. It is inaccurate, either by the omission of those who have come before or by the length of time since the previous nameless person achieved said goal. The effect has been to bury a long line of African American Ballerinas that preceded her. There are many, but seldom are their names and achievements acknowledged when we are talking about African-American females in Ballet. Presently it is all Misty all the time; it is a great PR machine at work. The truth is that Misty may well be the “only” in her time, but the way the narrative is being written today, you would think that she was the first, and the only ever, that she is blazing an unmarked trail, and because she has become the “face” of the “Black ballerina” for this generation, people believe it to be true.
The truth behind the myth is that Misty is walking on a path that, though overgrown from lack of use, was cleared before her, but you would never know it unless you know it. There is a sort of erasure that is taking place. It is quite easy to do, as much of African-American history is written from a revisionist perspective if it is recorded at all. If we as a people do not keep the records, who will? Seldom does white America come into the stacks of our archives (except for one month a year which is designated for a cursory lesson of the vast and far reaching contributions of African-Americans) to learn of our history, which is American history . When it comes to dance history, and ballet specifically, there is even less interest and knowledge of that history. Therefore, it has been both harder to preserve and easier to alter, or eradicate.
Over the past 5 years we have seen the meteoric rise of Misty Copeland, and although her Q rating has gone up, her ranking at the American Ballet Theater has not. Here is where the mythology starts to show some fissures. When Copeland began to gain some support for her singular (and duly deserved) position at ABT, there was a campaign of sorts launched. “Get the word out about this girl! She could do what has never been done, she might be able to be the first African American Female Principal of ABT!” That is the first granule of truth. Copeland was and is still poised to make history if and when promoted. However, when the PR machine got started, Copeland’s Wikipedia page cited her as being the first African-American Female Soloist in the history of ABT. This is untrue. She is in fact the third to hold this ranking (admittedly an abysmally low number overall), having been preceded by Anne Benna Sims in the 1970’s and Nora Kimball in the mid-80s.
Two decades is a long time. Some might say “It might as well be a first.” For almost 2 generations of dancers it is, but in reality it is not. There were two women in the American Ballet Theater who were the “Misty Copeland’s” of their day. In the 70’s or 80’s they were the ones little brown girls went to the ballet to see, their eyes searching frantically for a glimpse of themselves on stage. If you had seen or been inspired by either one of them and their artistry, you would take issue with their omission. I can recall being mesmerized by Nora Kimball, who was like a mythical creature on stage (I saw her dance when she was with the Frankfurt Ballet). She was beauty in motion, but as a woman she was….breathtaking. For me it was Debra Austin, who was a Principal dancer at the Pennsylvania Ballet in the 80’s where she danced roles in Swan Lake, Coppelia, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Giselle and La Sylphide. As a young student I would watch her in rehearsal, mouth agape.
(*Ms. Copeland’s page has since been amended to reflect that she is in fact the fourth African-American soloist (and third female) at ABT.)
That having been stated, if you were to Wikipedia Anna Benna Sims of Nora Kimball you would be left wanting for information. That might be partly due to the eras in which they danced. We are in an age where every action, both banal and noteworthy, is documented equally. Both women danced in a time where creating video was not as easy as whipping out a cell phone and posting. Back in the day, archiving was an actual job that required a degree, and it was done as a means of preservation, not marketing and self promotion as is typical today. Their stories have not been scanned and uploaded, they might be uninterested, or daunted by the task, and no one else has has done so. Thus like a photograph in time, the images begin to fade, fade, fade away…
Beyond Wilkinson, Copeland and journalists alike have seldom by name, acknowledged those who have actually walked her path, as a result both Sims, Kimball, have been reduced to less than footnote in the history they wrote, and have all but been forgotten except those who witnessed their endeavors.
Let us go back to the evening of Copeland’s Firebird debut, and see how the myth was strengthened, the New York Daily New stated:
“But in June 2012 — when Copeland became the first black ballerina in history to dance the lead in “The Firebird” for a major classical ballet company, composer Igor Stravinsky’s breakthrough work”
It is important for all to understand that this is not an attack on Misty Copeland, she is one of our pioneers, and the greatest one of her time, but I am confronting the narrative being crafted around her, and the mythology that is being evoked.
Whether or not you want to include Dance Theatre of Harlem in the category of “classical” or not, the fact that their multi-cultured production of The Firebird that spawned not one but many black Firebirds was not acknowledged by journalists is negligent. Firebird, along with Geoffrey Holder’s Dougla, were signature pieces for the company. Stephanie Dabney, Judy Tyrus, Charmaine Hunter, Christina Johnson and Andrea Long (a former member of New York City Ballet for 8 years), were just some of the incredible African-American ballerinas that danced that role, most to critical acclaim. I recall a particular performance at Washington’s Kennedy Center when Charmaine Hunter danced the lead role and received a standing ovation that lasted almost 5 minutes and was suspended in air during the final tableau. I, in my maiden’s costume, was brought to tears by the reception. Is that not worthy of mention?
In America, successful African American’s cannot peacefully co-exist, they have to eclipse.
But I digress,
Virginia Johnson, the current artistic Director of DTH and former principal dancer with the company danced the company’s critically acclaimed production of Giselle. DTH’s Co-founder Karel Shook fought for the production. He said “They will never take us seriously as a classical company if we do not dance a classic”, but he insisted that it make sense for a company that looked like Dance Theatre of Harlem. Thus it was set in the Bayou, a Creole Giselle. Brilliant. It is a travesty that this important part of history is virtually unknown and is almost absent on the internet. You cannot Google it, and sadly even Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Wikipedia page is sorely lacking in information (in fact none of the names of the Firebirds mentioned above are cited). On the topic of searching the internet, here is a fun fact. When one searches Sims or Kimball, often Copeland’s name and image come up but both of their Wikipedia pages are sparse. Have we gone back to our African roots, carrying on our history through word of mouth griotism? We cannot afford that. Our information must be on the highway. We can do better, we must do better.
It is important for all to understand that this is not an attack on Misty Copeland, she is one of our pioneers, and the greatest one of her time. What I am confronting is the narrative being crafted around her, and the mythology that is being evoked, and what is being left out of her narrative, that is a part of our history.
We saw supermodel Naomi Campbell dominate the scene until Tyra Banks was discovered, and instead of there being space for the both of them (like there was for Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington) the two were pitted against each other. When writer Terry Macmillan burst onto the publishing scene in the 90’s, she was compared to Nobel Prize- and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Toni Morrison (which is like saying that Jackie Collins is like William Faulkner) There were phrases like “Macmillan, the new Morrison” bandied about. Why? The former’s body of work and achievements aren’t wholly eradicated, but since the number of roles and resources for African-American work is so limited, something often has to give. There is an unspoken double standard in this country. Two time Best Actress Oscar winner Bette Davis (1935/1938) has never been eclipsed by two time Best Actress Oscar winner Meryl Streep (1982/2011). They both hold their rightful place in history, and there is room for both of them.
“I never imagined myself as Odette/Odile…I thought even if I became a principal, this part might not be given to me because no one like me had done it before.”
So who is at fault for the lack of information, abundance of misinformation or omission? Is it Misty? Do we hold her responsible for not constantly acknowledging her sisters in ballet? Is it the PR team that has whipped the myth like Frances Underwood of House of Cards? Is it the journalists lack of due diligence? Are they responsible for driving the narrative? Is it the African-American dance community for not taking care of our own historical archives and keeping our legacy alive and vibrant? I charge all of the above. Yes, Misty could make more of an effort to evoke the names of those who came before her, those who are now in the trenches at ballet schools around this county, and stand in front studios every day as flesh and blood examples to brown girls and boys who have a dream of becoming ballet dancers. Their presence says, “Yes you can, because I did”. But I will say that she has done a great deal, she is out there, the poster child for her generation, and there is a great deal of pressure and expectation placed on her head. This is now a global discussion because of her, and the stance she has taken as a Black woman, and getting the message out there.
*It has been brought to my attention that in the Nelson George documentary “A Ballerina’s Tale” at the end there is a mention of Sims, Kimball and even a picture of Anderson in Swan Lake, and an interview with former ABT member Robyn Gardenhire. Better late than never, but one can’t help but wonder if this is is kind of like the amendment to the Wikipedia page…the “Whoops, people are starting to notice, let’s correct that”. Even if it is, we’ll take it!!! It’s a step in the right direction.
What about the journalists? Here is where the hammer comes down. Writers need to do their research (and that means going beyond reading the last 5 articles that were written inaccurately on the subject). If you are not a dance writer (and some of them have fallen short too) then look for the information, make a call, ask a question, don’t be (yes, I’ll say it) lazy and indulgent toward your angle. It’s called due diligence. Dance Magazine can do better with featuring artists of color regularly; those we know, and those we should know (broader than just the 25 to watch). Often we see the same faces being featured over and over again. Tell us something we don’t know, tell us something we SHOULD know.
And lastly to the community, yes we are to blame on a level. If we don’t document, protect and herald our history, who do we think is going to do it? Dance Theatre of Harlem, I charge you to put the names of the beautiful artists that helped build the legacy that you are working to live up to and restore, on your Wikipedia page! Why is it that we can name a slew of white ballerinas – Suzanne Farrell, Natalia Makarova, Melissa Hayden, Sylvie Guillem, Heather Watts, Gelsey Kirkland, Darsi Kistler, Alessandra Ferri, Wendy Whelan, (and one does not negate but informs the other)? You can effectively chart ballet’s evolution by connecting their dots. They are all beautiful and talented and have their individual page in history as they should. Most ballet dancers, black, white or other, would have a hard time naming 5 African-American ballerinas, and it is not because they have not existed, it is because they have not been valued and held up in the same way as their white counterparts. Such is the case in America across the board. #blacklivesmatter, #blackcontributionmatters…. WE HAVE DOTS, in the plural not just one, and we need to post them so that we can connect them and reveal the constellation of our history.
I wrote this not as a slam to a woman of immense talent, courage, strength and beauty. No I wrote this:
Let this be an open “Role” call.
In the comment section below please enter your name or the name/s of black ballerina/s who has danced professionally. Please leave the company affiliation(and rank if you like) and any other information you think is important to remember. Everyone’s contribution is valid, and valuable and worthy to be acknowledged.. This is gonna a be fun!!!
(if this was sent to you via Facebook, or some other link Please leave your entry on the http://mybodymyimage.com comments to keep them together and as public as possible!)
Please leave roll call listing at http://www.museumofblacksinballet.org/rollcall/
fill out the Form and we will have them added!! the Revolution has begun!!!
Off the top of my head list of African American Ballerinas who I had the pleasure of knowing/and or dancing with during 2000-2010 (*…from companies other than DTH…The list would be far more extensive if I includes the beautiful artists that have danced for DTH.):
– Aesha Ash
– Bahiyah Hibah
– Alicia Graf Mack
– Heather Brooke Malone-Wolf (North Carolina Dance Theater, Oakland Ballet, Nashville Ballet)
– Natalia Johnson (DTH, Urban Ballet Theater)
– Adriane Richburg (DTH, Urban Ballet Theater)
– Danielle Campbell (Ballet San Antonio, Georgia Ballet, Oakland Ballet)
– Paunika Jones (DTH, Columbia City Ballet)
– Perris McCraken
– Amy Johnson
– Nena Gilreath (Ballethnic, Atlanta Ballet)
– Kayla Rowser (Nashville Ballet)
– Toni Doctor (Atlanta Ballet)
– Heidi Cruz-Austin (Pennsylvania Ballet)
– Jasmine Roberts
– Georné Aucoin
– Whitney Edwards (Nashville Ballet, Georgia Ballet)
– Sylvia Dansby Williams (Columbia City Ballet)
– Indya Childs (Ballethnic, 2015 “25 to Watch”)
– Laila Howard (Ballethnic)
– Saunjuli Delao
and me:
– Angela Harris (Georgia Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Urban Ballet Theater)
(**I will think of more…and in the meantime, I hope others post some names too!)
Bethania Gomes , Afro brazilian and Cape Verdean ballerina . Former Dance Theatre of Harlem principal dancer. Started at as student at the DTH School Ensemble. Danced Glenn Tetley’s Dialogs, Spartacus Pad de deux , Firebird and others.
Whitney Edwards (DTH:Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble, Nashville Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, The Georgia Ballet, California Ballet)
Lydia Abarca, Dance Theater of Harlem
Tiffany Glenn, Ballet San Jose
Tai Jimenez, Dance Theater of Harlem and Boston Ballet
Céline Gittens is a current dancer in Birmingham Royal Ballet. As of April 2015, she is soloist rank on their website.
In 2012, she and and Tyrone Singleton of Birmingham Royal Ballet performed the lead roles in the company’s production of Swan Lake. Both are mixed-race, and according to the Guardian, it was the first time that the ballerina role has been taken by a black dancer in the UK.
Dance Theatre of Harlem & Miami City Ballet Dancer 1990-1997
Miami City Ballet Instructor 1997-2007, 2012-2015!
Personally, I’ll never forget Lydia Abarca and Paul Russell bringing down the house with their Corsaire pas at the State Theater with DTH back in the mid-Seventies.
My daughter just transitioned from ballerina to elementary school teacher after dancing professionally for 12 years. When she was a teen, she participated in the ABT summer intensive for several years. It was there that I first saw Misty. She was a dynamo from day one. There were no doubts in my mind that she would dance for ABT and eventually become a principal. It wouldn’t have mattered what color she was. Her ability, facilities, and artistic talent were the forces that elevated her to stardom. In my opinion, the hype that is created by the media and ABT is provoked by agents to create awareness and motivate people to attend the ballet. Our society has lost sight of the beauty this art brings to the table. In general, as we all know, too much emphasis is placed on sports, technology, and racing to the top of a nameless mountain. It is sad that the pioneers that went before her have been conveniently forgotten. It does go hand in hand, however, with our present educational focus on mathematics and english, alongside of an inappropriate amount of time spent on history.
Francesca Harper is missing here ;-). She danced with DTH and Ballet Frankfurt
Nikkia S. Parish – PA Ballet, DTH, Washington Ballet
Akua Parker, Tai Jimenez, Dionne Figgins and a host of others too numerous to count….
Ok you went IN!!! That is awesome, thank you so much. This is so fun to see the names and affiliations let’s keep it going!!!
Ok what about Former NYCB’s Ayesha Ash (who went on to also dance for Alonzo King’s Lines) and Ms Andrea Long who was also a NYCBer for 8 years and then went on to be a principal with DTH and was also a Firebird!! ROLL CALL!
Ariel Triunfo- Currently dancing with Nevada Ballet Theatre
T. Ruth, this is The Truth. Plus it’s a fabulous history lesson. Thank you for all the research and knowledge. Now, wasn’t Shelley Washington a soloist with ABT in the 80s when ABT merged with Twyla’s dancers?? About Lauren Anderson and Carlos Acosta, their Swan Lake casting in 2001 was wildly popular. See my posting at http://www.dancemagazine.com/blogs/admin-admin/6417.
Thanks for the well written article. It was needed and helped to highlight others who widened this path.
Yolonda Jordan (D’Amico)
San Francisco Ballet
Ballet Austin
My dear friend, Kimberly Braylock, at San Francisco Ballet
Theresa, Thank you for speaking your truth, our truth and the ballet world’s truth. I stood on the shoulders of and admired the following ballerinas who were ballerinas, trail blazers and cultural ambassadors at Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) :
Patsy Rickets, Yantchie Stevens, Lydia Abarca, Virginia Johnson, Gayle McKinney, Sheila Rohan, Susan Lovelle, Laura Brown, Elena Carter, Melva Murray-White, Rhonda Sampson, Roslyn Sampson, Yvonne Hall, Cassandra Phifer, Karen Wright. And then let’s not forget Sandra Fortune Green and Sarah Yarborough.
From Karen Brown
1973 – 1995 Principal Ballerina -The Dance Theatre of Harlem 2000 – 2006 Artistic Director of Oakland Ballet
2010 The New York Dance & Performance Award AKA
The Bessie Award
2006 Pioneer Award from the Oakland Bay Area
Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc.
2003 Mozart to Motown Arts Pioneer Award
2002 ABC TV Local Hero Award
2001 City Flight Magazine Bay Area’s Ten Most
Influential African-Americans
1984 New York Times’ Ten Best Performances:
Agnes DeMille’s Fall River Legend
This was such a well said article and thank you so much for posting something I also felt like needed to be said. There are ballet dancers in the past that paved the way for young African American dancers here today that are never talked about or recognized. I LOVE how when people think of ballet they think of Misty Copeland. This is an AMAZING thing and I wish her so much continued success. I think thought how she is being presented is as if she is the “first” in all aspects which isn’t all true. There are dancers before her and current brown ballerinas all over the country in amazing companies that are paving the way for young brown bunheads that seem to be, like you said, vanishing.
San Francisco Ballet Dancer- Kimberly Braylock
Joffery Ballet Dancer- Dara Holmes
ABT Corps de Ballet dancer- Courtney Lavine
DTH and former Lines Ballet Dancer- Ashley Jackson
Lines Ballet and former National Ballet of Canada Dancer- Adji Cissoko
NYCB Dancer-Olivia Boisson
Atlanta Ballet Dancer- Kiara Felder
Ballet West Dancer- Katlyn Addison
Ballet West Dancer and former DTH member- Gabrielle Salvatto
Former Ballet West member and Current Kansas City Ballet Artist – Whitney Huell
Charlotte Ballet- Amanda Smith
LA Ballet Dancer- Jasmine Perry
Many others were named above but I just wanted to add that,
Aesha Ash was also with Lines Ballet and Bejart Ballet after she left NYCB. And so many more that are doing phenomenal work in expanding what people perceive/think about ballet.
Precious Adams – English National Ballet
Lydia Abarca and Ronald Perry danced Swan Lake (staged by Freddy Franklin) for Dance Theatre of Harlem. I believe it was only the second act, but here is a photograph: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19800110&id=hi1UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nIwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5834,1670761&hl=en
You can see Anne Benna-Sims briefly in this video of a telecast of ABT’s Bayadere as one of the six girls dancing with scarves; the dance begins at about 24:57.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX2XZllu8SU
In about 1974 Lydia Abarca and Paul Russell were guest Sugar Plum and Prince in Ruth Page’s Nutcracker in Chicago.
This is a short clip of Debra Austin in La Sylphide with Pennsylvania Ballet. Her partner is Jeffrey Gribler.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6RHgi6Sc98
Lorraine Graves-DTH
– Andrea Long-Naidu
-Nikkia Parrish
– Elisha Wilson Beach
– Regine Metayer
Sandra Fortune-Green definitely deserves to me on this list. Please check out the links below:
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1974/05/26/page/418/article/sandra-fortune-smiles-on-the-capitol-ballet-company
http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/sandra-fortune-green-41
http://www.dancestudiolife.com/washington-d-c-esteemed-dance-educator-sandra-fortune-green-recognized/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/22/AR2006032202550.html
Wonderful article but I am surprise that it keeps mentioning Wikipedia which really should not be used as reference. It is not researched to be a “true” form of journalistic reference that should be cited and is discouraged as being a source in journalistic writings.
Kiara Felder (Atlanta Ballet) and Nayomi Van Brunt (New York Theatre Ballet) are two extremely talented young African-American ballet dancers who starred in my 2014 short film “Janet: A Silent Ballet Film” (which deals with, among other themes, racism in ballet, and which honors the legacy of Janet Collins, who, as you mention, broke the color barrier in ballet, becoming the first African-American prima ballerina to dance full-time with a major company, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, beginning in 1951). I recommend “Night’s Dancer” by Yael Tamar Lewin to anyone who wants to learn more about the fascinating life of Janet Collins. It’s the only biography of her so far to be published.
Robert Carter, Principal, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo; drag ballet, yes, but he is a prima and a brilliant dancer who has performed worldwide.
Alicia Morant – Shes a breathtaking, musical, powerful yet graceful ballerina! She Danced with DTH, was a Professor, Concert Director, & Co-Director of the USC (Carolina) Dance Program several years ago, where she developed the curriculum that established the current dance Major & Minor..it was simply a theatre & PE course with 30-80 students before she arrived!! Many of her students moved on to careers in dance, who had never danced before her! Amazing impact. She’s an amazing award winning choreographer and has also danced with Complexions, & starred in The Lion King on Broadway as a lead, a singer, and a dancer. She is the personal trainer for celebrities like Britney Spears & numerous professional athletes. Kobe Bryant is a fan of her work! From what I know now, she’s still dancing and choreographing for ballet companies internationally and doing projects with contemporary artists like Common, Qtip, Rufus Wainwright and many others.
When did I say that journalists should use Wikipedia? When I am referring to use of Wikipedia I am not necessarily talking to journalists I am talking to young dancers, or people who are interested in learning about these people in general. and let’s get real when you search someone it is the first thing that comes up, it is the unofficial/official go to when you want to know something about anything. It has become a layperson’s staring point, then comes the articles written about the subject (that journalist need to get right!!)
I LOVE you for this!!!
•Alicia Fisher (Sonia Alicia Morant) danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Lion King on Broadway.
•Robert Carter, Senior Ballerina at Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
-Maggie Small current principal dancer with the Richmond Ballet. Dance Magazine Cover Girl September 2012
http://images.dancemedia.com/uploads/tx_MPAM1/2012_09_0.jpeg
We don’t have adequate historical records of ballerinas of color because we don’t have adequate photographic and video documentation of any form of dance pre-21st century, and because historians haven’t taken up the cause – for lack of funding and lack of institutional interest. The history of ballet has only started to be properly written, without the quaintness and the sexist and racist overtones of the past.
The problem with current efforts to set the record straight is that anyone can set the record straight! Anyone with a pulse can get on to Wikipedia and write whatever nonsense they want, not to mention myriad other websites.
We can’t stop people with mischievous intentions or the plain ignorant from revving up the engine of the Internet. But we can pledge to ignore them, to stop reposting them on social media – and instead promote the books, articles and films underpinned by thorough, dispassionate research. Unfortunately this kind of work is not sexy and can take years to publish.
On the subject of Misty: Copeland is one of a tiny handful of dancers today whose name can fill an opera house. http://bachtrack.com/review-swan-lake-misty-copeland-brooklyn-mack-washington-ballet-eisenhower-theater-kennedy-center-washington-april-2015 She follows in the footsteps of the peripatetic Anna Pavlova, who brought ballet to new audiences, and Margot Fonteyn, who was a bona fide rock star. It is not that these dancers had unique artistic gifts or were head and shoulders above others; rather, their charisma, their tenacity, their good fortune, their publicity machinery, and the social climate of their times conspired to elevate their visibility. They revived audiences for live performance.
Ballet needs Misty right now: this is an industry in perilous decline. Thanks to Under Armour, to Time magazine, and to the countless of sites, both fluffy and serious, who have spotlighted her, we now have interest from thousands of people who previously wouldn’t be caught dead at the ballet. Celebrate that.
To build on the momentum, we have to minimize divisiveness and petty rivalries, encourage proper scholarship (which resides increasingly at universities with well-funded dance programs), and pressure the institutions at the forefront of change – DTH, ABT, Washington Ballet, etc. – not just to provide more opportunities for dancers of color, but to graciously recognize past achievements.
Also important to recognize that the playing field has not been even for all dancers “of color.” Dancers of East Asian descent, Hispanic and Cuban dancers, are present in increasing numbers in ballet companies worldwide, whereas dancers of African descent, and darker-skinned dancers in general, face greater prejudice. The principal instruments of change will not be affirmative action or diversity programs, but increasing intermarriage, and global mobility. The swan corps of the future will not be a mix of black and white, but all shades of brown and olive.
This precisely why I wanted to create a roll call. We the people who are in the field dancing, WE have to take care of our own history. To create an archive of our own. Unfortunately some of those references that you mention are difficult to find, or simply don’t exist. In addition, “this” cyberspace place that we are in, IS the new history book, it IS the new film bank. I and think everyone else is supporting and celebrating Misty…My question (and forgive me if I misread the “tone” of your comment) it sounds like you are saying that if we say “Hey there is a long history here” that somehow translated at NOT celebrating her accomplishments? Am I taking you comment about divisiveness out of context? actually this here is about a curriculum of inclusion…
Prima Ballerina Sandra Fortune Green of the Capital Ballet Company. Jones Haywood School of Ballet also had as alums Renee Robinson of Alvin Ailey, Chita Rivera 2 Tony Awards, Hinton Battle, 3 Tony Awards, Sylvester Campbell and many others. In 1972 Fortune-Green began training for the prestigious Second International Ballet Competition in Moscow, Russia. She was the only African American to compete in that competition.
Sandra performed such classics as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Let Corsaire, and Don Quixote. She also performed as a guest soloist with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Santo Domingo Ballet in the Dominican Republic. In 1973 she garnered Honorable Mention at the International Ballet Competitions in Varna, Bulgaria. She is now the artistic director of the Jones Haywood School of Dance.
Stephanie Powell – Oakland Ballet, DTH
Robyn Gardenhire – Cleveland Ballet, ABT
Both are beautiful, amazing ballerinas who now teach and inspire the next generations of young dancers.
Thank you for being willing to address what many who do know a little more history than is being discussed by the PR team. You have said what we have wanted to. Misty deserves the accolades but there is also danger in raising a generation of kids who believe she is the “only” African American dancer in Classical Ballet. Adding to the list, some may have been mentioned already, but I have this list that I add to each year being the parent of a working professional ballet dancer of color.
Andrea Long
Tassia Hooks Johnson
Raven Wilkinson
Aesha Ash
Lauren Anderson-Houston Ballet
Tai Jiminez
Whitney Edwards
Courtney Lavine-ABT
Sandra Organ Solis
Debra Austin
Cleopatra Williams-Houston Ballet
Erica Lynn Edwards-Joffrey Ballet
Nayomi Van Brunt-Atlanta Ballet
Kayla Rowser-Nashville Ballet
Elisabeth Mensah-Ballet Memphis
Dara Holmes
Rebecca Bowls
Autumn Hill
Alicia Graf Mack
Yolanda Jordan
Karen Brown
Toni Doctor-Atlanta Ballet
Robin Gardinhire
Judith Jamison (Harkness Ballet and Ailey)
Heidi Cruz-Austin
Nayara Lopes
Brenda Edwards (ENB)
Diamond Ancion
Michaela DePrince-Dutch National
Katlyn Addison (Canadian)
Lydia Abarca
Whitney Huell-Ballet West, Kansas CIty Ballet
Allison Stroming
Autumn Hill
Rebecca Bowles
Kiara Felder
Adji Cissoko (NBoC)
Kimberly Braylock (dancer of color)-SF Ballet
Alicia White
Carmen Felder
Jasmine Perry-LA Ballet
Christina Spigner-Miami City
Precious Adams-English National
Ashley Hannah Davis-Ballet Memphis
Jasmine Perry-Los Angeles Ballet
Nardia Bardoo
Rachel Jones
Just want to say how thrilling it is to see this roll call of names!
I know, I get so giddy, at both the names, and the level of participation, that we as a community are doing this, together!! I love reading what others have to say about the people they are bringing forth…wow
awesome!!! I think that it’s great that people are named multiple times, it sort of says something right? wonderful thank you!
The roll call is fantastic! I love seeing all the names. With regard to a prior post by C. Escoda, can you kindly clarify what the “people with mischievous intentions or the plain ignorant that are revving up the internet” are doing or saying? I think that Ms. Howard has done an excellent job of setting the record straight. Although we may not have adequate historical records of ALL ballerinas of color, we have enough information to know that some of the achievements attributed to Ms. Copeland that are described as “first”, “only” and “never before” are indeed not true.
Don’t forget ABT soloist Keith Lee! He is in this telecast from 1973:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqgrad-SM6Y
Erika Lambe, former DTH and Boston Ballet dancer
Oh I used to live with Ms. Lambe, her petite allegro was always sick!!! Love her! yay, this is fun
Please add Maurya Kerr, who danced with Alonzo King’s Lines and now has her own company, tinypistol, in San Francisco.
I’m confused about Raven Wilkinson – she does appear in the movie about Ballets Russes, on tour with the company.
And thank for a very important article.
Wow thank you for saying what I would not. You lose a lot in the written word, tone and intention can get muddled. I THOUGHT that she might be eluding to my article…however…There is proof actually, THE ROLL CALL is proof, We are witnessing here…There is documentation of both the things I cited and more, they have just been overlooked to serve the narrative. It’s all good there is enough shine for everyone!!!
OH I love Maurya, I remember when she audition for DTH back in the day. She is lovely. I also interviewed her for a body image piece for Dance Magazine, her story was so great. It was entitled Learn to love your body http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/October-2009/Learn-To-Love-Your-Body
First I would like to thank Ms. Howard for writing this incredibly beautiful and fact-based article. [Please know that I don’t mean to cast any shade on Misty’s parade.] With that stated, I think some credit also needs to go to Houston Ballet and the incredible vision of Ben Stevenson (who never discriminated against dancers because of their ethnicity, origin, or religious beliefs). I realize that this “comment” section is designed for naming additional African-American ballerinas; however, I believe that Mr. Stevenson has made some of this history possible: he recruited Adrian Vincent James (the first black dancer HB had ever hired); promoted Sandra Organ Solis to Soloist (the first black ballerina to achieve that rank at HB); and promoted Lauren Anderson to Principle (the first black ballerina to achieve that rank within a “white” renown classical ballet company). Controversy was a word that Mr. Stevenson ignored. He stood by the talents of his dancers: Lauren Anderson (when she received death threats), and Li Cunxin (during an international deportation crisis). Behind every great ballet dancer is a Director who believes in their talents (and sometimes risks their own career to mentor them). [Misty Copeland has a well-paid PR team.] Again, thank you for helping to set the record straight.
Theresa Ruth, a roll call of today’s generation of dancers of color is a wonderful idea, esp. from those who have actually seen these dancers perform and can comment on their particular gifts. So I echo the shout outs to Céline Gittens (BRB) and Kimberly Braylock (SFB). But the problem with social media is that it is very flattening; lumping all these dancers together with previous generations, without the benefit of context, without the nuances of their individual journeys, can be very misleading – esp. to young readers who are not up on their dance or social history. We should be getting our primary information on the great dancers of yesterday from dance historians and from ballet companies’ websites and official publications. Yet there seems to be no mention of Lydia Abarca, or Nora Kimball, for ex. on DTH and ABT sites. (Okay, ABT does list Kimball in its repertory archive for pieces in which she was original cast but you’d have to know what those pieces were to find her name.) Many companies who put videos on YouTube don’t even bother to name the individual dancers… (Where are the dancers’ unions when we need them?)… My point is that we need greater rigor and scholarly discipline in identifying these pioneers and in situating them in history, even in these informal forums.
Right and this is the point, this is just the start… Trust.. There isn’t ANYONE on the DTH website- that is why I challenged DTH to “handle their business” I take issue with the concept of you saying Lumping…We ARE lumped together as Ballerinas period, all of these women who make it to the professional level are valid. And Who is it that gets to determine “greatness”? You think that Copeland is comparable to PAVLOVA and Fonteyn, some would take GREAT issue with that. Popularity and artistry are not synonymous. And you have to look at their bodies of work..I think Copeland might have a few more Swan Lakes to get under her belt before we “Lump” her together with Pavlova, Fonteyn, Makarova, Kirkland..I am not commenting on Copeland’s talent, but the landscape in which she exists.
Carolyn,Thank you so much, yes this is a place that I have called the ROLL CALL but it’s also a place to tell those stories, that is GREAT and important information to have. When we are talking about racism in ballet world to know that Stevenson took a stand and opened those doors and created those opportunities is important and valid, this space is for the ROLL CALL and the discourse, bring it!!!
Theresa Ruth, if you read my review of Copeland’s recent Swan Lake (link provided earlier) you will see I certainly do not place her on a par with the sainted Pavlova and Fonteyn! I explicitly mentioned her inexperience in the role and how it showed in the performance. My comparing her to P+F was driven by her celebrity and her ability to sell out an opera house. Pavlova and Fonteyn were pioneers in their own eras; they marched to their own drummers, they challenged the system, they brought new audiences into the theatre. I think this is a fair comparison to what Copeland is accomplishing today. Whether she goes on to become a great ballerina capable of tackling the iconic leading roles is another matter altogether.
Alicia Morant- Robert Ivey Ballet Principal / DTH / Bill T Jones/Complexions/Broadway
Tameika Gray-DTH
Akua Parker-DTH/Ailey/Ballet San Jose
Lisa Lewis-DTH/ Broadway
Virginia Johnson-DTH Prima!!
There’s Awa Joannais corps member at the POB and Olympiada N’gobi at Mikhailovsky which is no small feat.
Some more interesting links:
An event at Howard U on African-Americans in ballet history, with Misty Copeland.
http://dancemogul.com/news/?p=7957
Check out this footage of former FLOTUS Patricia Nixon giving Sandra Fortune a bouquet after a performance.
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675057320_First-Lady-Patricia-Nixon_Julie-Nixon_Capitol-Ballet-Guild_Sandra-Fortune_Mr-Cantrell.
The story is there in the primary sources, but the knowledge will be lost unless it is packaged in a form that people who are not serious historians can access without digging through mountains research material.
A very short segment of a program ABC did about Dance Theater of Harlem in about 1990. It was on a VHS tape that had degraded very badly, but I managed to salvage 2 short segments and one longer one. I’m posting this as it has a little bit of footage of Firebird.
Maybe you could have a different place where one could post films? I don’t want to appear to be derailing the discussion! 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0vU9l0eUCo
Ms. Howard, Wikipedia would probably take a dim view of DTH updating its own article, but I wish you would. Wikipedia is an imperfect source of information, to be sure, but you’ve done so much research, it seems a shame not to improve some of the articles you mentioned. You’d be doing both dancers and lay people a great service.
Ah, Lada, Lada Lada…
It’s absolutely RIDICULOUS for anyone tho think that Wikipedia would “Take a dim view” when an organization updates its own page. here is what Wkikipedia says about editing
“However, it is Wikipedia policy that information in Wikipedia should be verifiable and must not be original research. You are invited to show that information is verifiable by referencing reliable sources. ”
Now THIS Is why I think that DTH SHOULD BE THE ONES TO EDIT it’s page what is a MORE VERIFIABLE SOURCE THAN THE ORGANIZATIONS PERSONAL ARCHIVES!!! THEY HAVE THE DATES THE NAMES OF DANCERS, THEATERS, OF CASTING..I don’t have that.
Lada, I get the sub rosa implication: “Since YOU know it all, YOU do it” (said like sticky-faced, lollypop waving 6 year old) and you are missing the point and injecting a sentiment that really does not exist here, and has no place. I think that by starting this incredible ROLL CALL I am being in and of service, and it is the start…
This article has articulated something I have been trying to express for a while. As great as it is that Misty is getting all this publicity, journalists need to do more than just write the umpteenth article highlighting her excellence.
One thing that I think is also consistently left out of the conversations are regional ballet companies that have strived to hire more black dancers in recent years.
ballet memphis has a number of black dancers: http://www.balletmemphis.org/dancers
as does charlotte ballet:
http://www.balletmemphis.org/dancers
This article has articulated something I have been trying to express for a while. As great as it is that Misty is getting all this publicity, journalists need to do more than just write the umpteenth article highlighting her excellence.
One thing that I think is also consistently left out of the conversations are regional ballet companies that have strived to hire more black dancers in recent years. Ballet Memphis and Charlotte ballet both have a number of black dancer.
Good point and that also speaks to the hierarchy that exist the tiers of companies, and levels. Now we can agree that all companies are not created equal but should they, and the artist who are member be disregarded because they are not as prestigious as another? One’s work, their contribution has to account for something…(I think)
As my previous post acknowledges, when I first read this article I was elated, because it appeared that someone (with a viable by-line), finally had the courage to write an accurate account of the history of African American Ballerinas in the United States. (More consisely, to clip Misty’s “Swan Lake” wings.) However, after further perusal, it appears that my enthusiasim might have been a bit premature. After re-reading the article, it appears that the initial argument, “Misty Copeland claiming to be the first African American (of a major classical ballet company), to dance the role of Odette/Odile, and to do so with another African American cast as the prince,” got lost. That honor goes to Lauren Anderson when she danced the role with the Houston Ballet in the 1990s, and when Anderson was partnered with Carlos Acosta (who was half-Cuban and half-African American). Yes, you give them credit, but then denounce it when you state: “(albeit Debra Austin preceded her as a principle in the 80’s at Pennsylvania ballet),” and identifying Carlos as “Cuban American.” [When I was a young dancer, I wanted to dance with DTH, but that never happened. Was it because I didn’t have the talent, or because I was white?]
Theresa, BRAVA! You got the ball rolling with this hiccup in history regarding the brown ballerinas. We have to share the legacies with the next generation. I would like to add Gayle McKinney- Griffith-DTH and Germany; Elena Carter-Wyatt-DTH and there were other companies she danced with. Judy Tyrus-DTH.
I hear what you are saying – and this is where need to clarify our history- When I looked back and saw that in the 80’s Austin was a principal with PBC, and that Lauren was made principal in 1990, so when people are saying that Lauren is the first, perhaps she is actually the second, (I need to find the dates for Debra). I referred to Acosta as Cuban American, because that is what he is, I doing so I honor his Cuban heritage and the legacy that he has created for them. All’s fair…I think that’s ok. As to your last bracketed statement, All I can say is there were always white dancers in DTH, the first one I remember was Jo Cippola…Ineke Rush came up through the school, and there were a few others that I can recall..DTH was ALWAYS an internationally diverse company.but I’m not sure what that statement meant….But there were white dancers that Mr. Mitchell hired…
It would seem that Debra Austin joined Pennsylvania Ballet in about 1983, via a review I saw about changes in the company.
Great article! Hopefully we will get this important history straight. I am adding another dancer who is often overlooked. She is MYRNA KAMARA. She studied at SAB, became a NYCB apprentice, and joined the company in 1984 alongside her classmate , Wendy Whelan. She left the company in 1989. Her other credits are as follows:
1989-1990 Principal/Soloist- Bonn Ballet, Germany
1990-1996 Principal and Soloist- Miami City Ballet
1996- 1999 Principal – Bejart Ballet, Switzerland.
For the last 15 years, she has been a guest artist, most notably as the principal ballerina in Aida with the Arena di Verona in Italy. She continues to dance as a guest artist and is also a teacher and coach.
Her website is: http://www.myrnakamara.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/myrnakamara (@myrnakamara)
Ms. Howard, the bracketed comment was a veiled (obviously failed), attempt at a comparison. I would never have been accepted into DTH, not because I’m white, but because I didn’t have the talent. With that in mind, perhaps Misty will never be promoted to Principal, not because she’s black, but because there are other ballerinas, within ABT, more talented.
Thanks for the clarification. You are absolutely right (now go into hiding for saying it lol) It’s very true. There as been very little critique as to whether the chops are there or not- as the “room for one” rule goes “We” are not supposed to question just support as my good friend Brian Harlen Brooks says in “Faux Pubic Solidarity” I think we feel that when there is a “one” co close, whether the best candidate or not we cannot afford to question or criticize for fear that we (as a community) might lose that chance.. I call it the Halle Berry effect…(Now I’m going into hiding like Cheney) peace out!
Yes Ms. Debra Austin mentioned her to me as well… We are getting there slowly but surely!
thank you, that seems right to me as I would have been “rather” young and in the school at that time to see her…ok this is how we set the record straight, question did she come IN as a principal, I would think so with her resume at that time…
Here is another piece of that La Sylphide from Pennsylvania Ballet, it’s the last few minutes. It dates from 1988, by the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5uO_brljHk
Funny story about the incredible Andrea Long.
Aesha Ash in NYCB complained about not being in Concerto Barocco. The ballet master told her she is not turned out enough for the ballet. Aesha began to tell everyone that it was because she is black. Until she said this to Andrea Long who answered back ‘Aesha! stop playing the black card! I danced barocco my entire city ballet career and I’m blacker than you!’ God bless the truth and amazing strong ballerinas like Ms. Long!
The following article states that the beautiful Myrna Kamara was promoted to Principal in the Fall of 1995 (Miami City Ballet).
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-04-26/features/1995116172_1_miami-city-ballet-world-of-ballet-corps-de-ballet
This article, written in 1989, lists Debra Austin as a Principal Dancer.
http://articles.mcall.com/1989-10-22/entertainment/2720234_1_jeffrey-gribler-pennsylvania-ballet-frankfurt-ballet
The following article, written in 2014, states:
“When she was a dancer, Austin made history as the first African American female soloist at the New York City Ballet. According to The New York Times, “ . . while in the New York City Ballet, (Debra’s) smooth open jump and general vivacity there suggested a strong stage presence.”
When Austin later joined the Pennsylvania Ballet, she was the first African American woman to become a principal ballerina at a major dance company in the US. Ricky Weiss, then Pennsylvania Ballet’s Artistic Director, says, “Debra Austin had the most beautiful feet and legs of practically any ballerina I ever watched dance”. ”
http://www.trianglefaaaa.com/dance2/black-ballerinas-at-the-carolina-ballet
[So, it appears that defining which ballet companies are “major” seems to be the deciding factor of who was the first African-American Principal Ballerina.]
Another interesting article (actually comments), by Alastair Macaulay.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/books/review/Letters-t-003.html?pagewanted=print
Great information!!! RE: Major Ballet company… Yes we are finding that that can be a slippery slope, we might need some rosin!
ok that is hysterical, I can hear her high pitched voice saying that with a hand on the hip!
Only rosin? I don’t think that even Super-Glue could compete in this heated argument! The best website I could locate is the following, which states: “This roster lists all known, nonprofit dance companies with budgets above $100,000, reflected by a company’s expenses, for the fiscal year ending in 2012.”
https://www.danceusa.org/nationalcompanyroster
Using the criteria of Ballet, I came up with the following list:
1. NYCB
2. San Francisco Ballet
3. ABT
4. Boston Ballet
5. Houston Ballet
6. Pacific Northwest
7. Miami City Ballet
8. Joffrey Ballet
9. Pennsylvania Ballet Company
10. Atlanta Ballet
Kayla Rowser
Nashville Ballet(http://www.nashvilleballet.com/kayla-rowser/)
http://www.pointemagazine.com/blogs/swan-lake/ultimate-breakout-role
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwTaqOw5Fog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwTaqOw5Fog
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rainesford-alexandra/changing-the-face-of-ball_b_4759823.html
Kayla Rowser
Nashville Ballet
(http://www.nashvilleballet.com/kayla-rowser/)
http://www.pointemagazine.com/blogs/swan-lake/ultimate-breakout-role
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwTaqOw5Fog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwTaqOw5Fog
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rainesford-alexandra/changing-the-face-of-ball_b_4759823.html