A Ballerina's Tale

A Ballerina's Tale
Directed by Nelson George
Produced by Leslie Norville
Starring Misty Copeland
Narrated by Misty Copeland
Music by Chloe Flower
Edited by Malika Weeden
Country United States
Language English

A Ballerina's Tale is a 2015 documentary film that premiered with an April 19, 2015 screening at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Copeland is the primary subject of the film as well as its narrator.

History

On September 20, 2013, Nelson George announced a $40,000 Kickstarter campaign to fund production of a documentary film about the life of Misty Copeland. The campaign raised $54,251 USD with 657 backers.[1] The film is one of several forms of media publicity surrounding Copeland who has become a trailblazing ballerina with the American Ballet Theater.[2] A ballet performance accompanied the film's world premiere at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.[3] Copeland, who serves as narrator for the film, spoke following its premiere.[4]

Plot

The film follows the daily life of Copeland with emphasis on her role as one of the first African-American female soloists to present what Mekado Murphy of The New York Times describes as the process of the dancer.[5][6] The film begins with archival footage of a young Copeland at a small ballet studio and focuses on her cultural impact and professional ascension without delving into her personal history.[7]

Critical commentary

The film is not considered "eye-opening" according to Louise Blouin Media's Regina Mogilevskaya, but the presentation of Copeland as a performer is what makes the film memorable.[7]

Notes

  1. ↑ "A Ballerina's Tale". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  2. ↑ Sulcas, Roslyn (2014-02-21). "A Singular Ballerina’s Multiple Paths: Misty Copeland Prepares for Release of Her Memoir". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  3. ↑ Zeitchik, Steven (2015-04-14). "Tribeca 2015: With George Lucas and Monty Python, a fest broadens". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
  4. ↑ Prisco, Jaime (2015-03-16). "Misty Copeland 'A Ballerina's Tale,' Directed by Nelson George, to Debut at 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, with Mary J. Blige Documentary 'The London Sessions'". Classicalite.com. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
  5. ↑ Murphy, Mekado (2015-03-05). "Patricia Arquette and Mary J. Blige Starring in Films Added to Tribeca Festival Lineup". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  6. ↑ Zumberge, Marianne (2015-04-15). "Live Performances Heat Up Tribeca Film Festival Screenings". Variety. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mogilevskaya, Regina (2015-04-20). "Tribeca Film Festival Review: Nelson George's "A Ballerina's Tale"". Blouin Art Info International. Retrieved 2015-04-28.

External links