The trailer for the Misty Copeland doc “A Ballerina’s Tale” begins with a voiceover from its subject, Misty Copeland. “I’m a black dancer,” she says. “That’s who I am. It’s so much a part of my story.”
This newly released spot emphasizes how far Copeland and her story stray from the typical ballerina mold. Her race, body type and pedigree make her an anomaly in the world of ballet, which she didn’t even enter until the practically-ancient-in-ballet age of 13. But, as one interviewee notes, Copeland “had what you can’t teach or you can’t learn — she had a fire.”
That fire has taken Copeland to some pretty extraordinary places: She is the the first African-American principal dancer to dance with the uber-prestigious American Ballet Theater. The trailer includes footage of Copeland’s breathtaking dancing, and, yes, her fire is evident, as is her remarkable talent.
Last year, we reported that Copeland’s bestselling memoir, “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina,” was going to be adapted for the big screen. It seems likely that we’ll hear more information about that project during the promotion for “A Ballerina’s Tale,” which opens October 14 in theaters and on VOD.
