NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
In a memoir almost as graceful as her dancing, author/narrator Misty Copeland delivers an elegant account of how she made history when she became the first Black principal ballerina with the formerly all-white American Ballet Theatre company. Copeland’s voice lifts with delight as she speaks of her mentor, Raven Wilkinson (1935–2018), the first Black woman contracted to dance with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Copeland recounts anecdotes of how she and Wilkinson persevered in a profession that had been closed to Black dancers. Copeland stresses the importance of her friendships, her mentorships by other struggling Black dancers, and the bond of their shared history. Today, she dedicates her energy to ensuring that young Black dancers are treated with integrity and dignity. Inspiring listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
08/29/2022
Bestseller and renowned ballerina Copeland (Bunheads) recounts her friendship with and mentoring by the late Raven Wilkinson (1935–2018), who in 1955 became “the first Black woman to receive a contract with a major ballet company” upon signing with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. For her part, Copeland blazed a path to unprecedented prominence, joining the American Ballet Theater’s studio company after only four years of training and later becoming the ABT’s first Black female principal dancer. Copeland draws strength from Wilkinson’s perseverance through harrowing experiences of racism, including having Klansmen storm the stage at a performance in Montgomery and leaving the Ballet Russe and American ballet companies at large when her colleagues revealed their discriminatory beliefs toward her. Met with resistance to her outspokenness about anti-Blackness in dance throughout her career, Copeland celebrates her mentor’s wisdom as she shoulders the burdens and thrills of her historic career, and aims to inspire other dancers of color who face similar barriers as they pursue their passions (“Listening to , I was reminded that... I was setting other Black women free to dance, to dream big, to ‘fly.’ ”). The strength that Copeland found in Wilkinson is moving, and she renders it gracefully throughout. This is an inspiring and insightful account. Agent: Steve Troha, Folio Literary Management. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
"Anyone lucky enough to have seen Misty dance knows the perfect balance of power, grace, joy and purpose that pours out from her. She’s no less wonderful a writer. This story of Misty and her muse, idol and mentor, the inimitable Raven Wilkinson, is a beautiful love letter and an inspiring tribute."
—Amanda Seyfried, actress
"Having a contemporary ballerina tell the story of one of the great pioneers of our art form and bear witness to their mutual love and respect is so moving. I laughed, I reminisced, I cried….A definite must read!!!”—Lauren Anderson, Associate Director of Education & Community Engagement and former principal dancer at Houston Ballet
"What a courageous, authentic, and heartfelt story of the beautiful friendship between Misty Copeland and Raven Wilkinson, the ballerina who broke barriers in the 1950s with the Ballet Russe. Through the support of her mentor Ms. Wilkinson, Mrs. Copeland finds her deeper calling in paving the way for other black and brown dancers to fulfill their dreams in the art of ballet and beyond. Their story is truly inspiring."—Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director Designee at American Ballet Theatre
“Misty shares her story, as well as Raven’s, with a transparency and authenticity that invites readers to join her in navigating the ballet world as a Black woman. She guides us through the struggles but leaves us with hope and beauty.”—Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation
"Copeland celebrates her mentor’s wisdom as she shoulders the burdens and thrills of her historic career, and aims to inspire other dancers of color who face similar barriers as they pursue their passions . . . The strength that Copeland found in Wilkinson is moving, and she renders it gracefully throughout. This is an inspiring and insightful account.”—Publishers Weekly
NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
In a memoir almost as graceful as her dancing, author/narrator Misty Copeland delivers an elegant account of how she made history when she became the first Black principal ballerina with the formerly all-white American Ballet Theatre company. Copeland’s voice lifts with delight as she speaks of her mentor, Raven Wilkinson (1935–2018), the first Black woman contracted to dance with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Copeland recounts anecdotes of how she and Wilkinson persevered in a profession that had been closed to Black dancers. Copeland stresses the importance of her friendships, her mentorships by other struggling Black dancers, and the bond of their shared history. Today, she dedicates her energy to ensuring that young Black dancers are treated with integrity and dignity. Inspiring listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
