Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy by Misty Copeland

Author:Misty Copeland [Copeland, Misty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, United States, dance, Performing Arts, African American & Black, People & Places, Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9781534474253
Google: yoobEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2021-11-02T23:46:05.058915+00:00

“You transform yourself into a role—you become someone else.”

Lorraine Graves

(born 1957)

Lorraine Graves is a Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) legend. She has acted as Mama, Auntie, mentor, and friend to me and to so many other Black and brown dancers, generations over. I was introduced to Lorraine in 2010 by my friend, my mentor, and former DTH dancer Kellye Saunders, at a critical moment in my professional journey. I remember feeling alone and desperate, dealing with what would become the most severe injury of my career.

This injury began as a stress reaction in my shin while I was on tour in Norfolk, Virginia, Lorraine’s hometown. At short notice, she came to my hotel room with a sophisticated ice/compression machine. Though the machine helped ease the pain enough for me to perform the actual steps, it was her emotional support and love that gave me the courage to persevere.

Her guidance would help me get through months of touring, ultimately bringing me to my premiere as the Firebird at the Metropolitan Opera House, a career-changing moment. Only my close circle—including Lorraine—knew the severity of the injury. They rallied around me to ensure I made my historic New York City debut, and their generosity and guidance meant the world to me.

Lorraine began her professional career with DTH in 1978 after graduating early from Indiana University, and she achieved the rare feat of rising to the rank of principal dancer within just one year. Lorraine was surrounded by people of color once she joined the company, and she shared with me that she believed it was that supportive environment that allowed her to reach her potential. So many Black dancers never experience that and, as a result, never fully realize their dance dreams. But her talents afforded her all of these opportunities that she deserved.

Three years after becoming principal dancer, Lorraine became a ballet mistress with the company, helping to run rehearsals and teach. This was in addition to her duties as an active dancer with DTH, proving her maturity and leadership skills even at a young age. These dual roles helped Lorraine find her confidence as a dancer, and, in her words, they gave her “the opportunity to ‘see’ myself and think about how I want to see myself.”

Lorraine performed with DTH for seventeen years, making her mark in the company’s productions of Firebird and Creole Giselle, as well as in Serenade, Agon, Allegro Brillante, and more. She traveled the world because of ballet, dancing for Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Princess Margaret of England, and the king of Norway, among others.

And it’s because of Lorraine’s extraordinary accomplishments that Black and brown ballerinas today have a road map for knowing that their dreams can be possible.

Lorraine’s life, like mine, was completely changed by being a part of ballet. It’s a magical thing to be as talented, hardworking, and determined as Lorraine, and the fact that she shared her gifts with me and so many others is something I will always be thankful for.

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