Misty Copeland -The Real Black Swan

[playahaitian]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6SAJy6yoOWQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

How do you address the notion that the bodies of black girls and women were not made to be ballerinas?

I speak about it all the time. My body is very different from most of the dancers I dance with. I might not have the stereotypical "black body," but I definitely am more curvy and have a more athletic build from most ballet dancers. I actually have a dance-wear line coming out especially for curvy women, because most dance wear is made for professional dancers who are very petite with small busts and no real curves. I also have a plus-size line coming out that focuses on support of the bust, while still being very fashionable and elegant.​

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/14/misty-copeland-on-prince-_n_962318.html?1316022628

 

[playahaitian]

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="276" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x8vyks_prince-crimson-and-clover-official_music"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8vyks_prince-crimson-and-clover-official_music" target="_blank">Prince - Crimson and Clover (Official Video)</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/Lemongol" target="_blank">Lemongol</a></i>​

 

[playahaitian]

​

 

[playahaitian]

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xj83g7_prince-performs-the-beautiful-one-s-live-on-lopez-tonight_music"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xj83g7_prince-performs-the-beautiful-one-s-live-on-lopez-tonight_music" target="_blank">Prince Performs The Beautiful One's Live! on...</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/Doloresdu92" target="_blank">Doloresdu92</a></i>​

 

[WhenTheGoingGetsTtuff]

My baby girl wantes to be a ballerina, but unfortunately she's already getting her families body shapes. So this is interesting.

 

[playahaitian]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/saMB0Mr1qdE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>​

 

[playahaitian]

My baby girl wantes to be a ballerina, but unfortunately she's already getting her families body shapes. So this is interesting.

<object width="420" height="245" id="msnbc2274fe" classid="clsid27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=46564085&amp;width=420&amp;height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc2274fe" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=46564085&amp;width=420&amp;height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 420px;">Visit NBCNews.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.nbcnews.com">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">news about the economy</a></p>

 

[playahaitian]

My baby girl wantes to be a ballerina, but unfortunately she's already getting her families body shapes. So this is interesting.

its a difficult & expensive pursuit...but if she is Really passionate about it and you can support her throughout, it is an excellent source of structure and disciple.

Like I said its TOUGH and of course her race/background/body will be factors but her exposure to the art and technique would be very positive and beneficial.

I dont know where your located but in NY they are always giving free trail classes and discounted starter classes.

You can see the class demographic and instructors and use that as a barometer.

I'm really a proponent of encouraging young black girls to pursue everything positive and show then there are no limitations of "black" things or "white" things...especially when they are young. I dont want that in their vocabulary.

If you can, let her try. she may drop it herself but at least she was introduced to it positively and can say yeah I didn't like it and quit instead of I never even tried...