She’s best known as the first African American female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.
Misty Copeland is adding movie star and film producer to her resume. She describes her new film, “Flower”, as a piece of art activism. It focuses on the issues of gentrification and homelessness. And while the film is about her husband’s hometown of Oakland, California.
Copeland joined “News All Day” on this Women Wednesday to talk about the film and the next steps in her career.
She went from living in a hotel room with five siblings to becoming a ballet superstar. It was through the Boys and Girls club she took her first ballet class.
Copeland says that she’s inspired by Oakland’s youth culture that’s using art, dance and music to shine a light on different social issues.
She says the film, which has limited dialogue, is like taking a ballet and bringing it to life on film with topics that apply to people today.
Copeland says that she will return to dancing on stage, although there’s no set date for that. In the meantime, she’s focused on being a new mom and on The Misty Copeland Foundation, bringing dance to more people and making it more accessible and diverse.
“Flower” debuts on June 8 at the Tribeca Festival. A free screening at the Lincoln Center is scheduled on July 1 at 8:30 p.m.
For more information, go to @OaklandFlowerFilm on Instagram.