{"id":3503,"date":"2019-10-07T18:50:20","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T18:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/?p=3503"},"modified":"2025-04-21T07:16:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T07:16:29","slug":"2015-misty-copeland-promoted-to-principal-at-american-ballet-theatre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/2019\/10\/07\/2015-misty-copeland-promoted-to-principal-at-american-ballet-theatre\/","title":{"rendered":"2015 – MoBBallet launches \/ Misty Copeland is promoted to principal at American Ballet Theatre \/ Marcelino Samb\u00e9 is promoted to\u00a0soloist with the Royal Ballet."},"content":{"rendered":"

2015<\/strong><\/h1>\n

MoBBallet launches<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

After writing an article that prompted a collection of Black dancers’ names, Theresa Ruth Howard creates MoBBallet.<\/em><\/p>\n

On April 23, 2015 via her blog mybodymyimage.com<\/a>, Theresa Ruth Howard published “The Misty-rious Case of the Vanishing Ballerinas of Color: Where Have All the Others Gone?”, an article that endeavored to address the developing narrative of Misty Copeland as the first and only (principal) Black ballerina. Howard asked readers to enter the names of Black ballerinas who had danced professionally in the comments section, an effort to make the invisible visible.<\/span>\u00a0The outpouring of names developed into the Roll Call present on the site today.<\/p>\n

On June 18, 2015 at the Dance USA annual conference in Miami, Florida, Howard announced the creation of what was then called Museum of Blacks in Ballet<\/em>. However, after discovering that the word “museum” is regulated in New York City, Howard landed on “memoirs.” She was approached by a representative from the Knight Foundation interested in supporting the new project at the conference on the very day she announced MoBBallet’s establishment. The launch of the website was scheduled for February 2016.<\/p>\n

The intention of MoBBallet is to invoke the sensation of a digital museum by curating online installations which include oral histories, written works and archival data through its Timeline, Roll Call, Digital Installations, and Constellation Project. In this way, MoBBallet works to preserve, present and promote the contributions of Black ballet dancers internationally.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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MoBBallet was designed to comprehensively address the issues cited in Howard’s article: a lack of visibility, the need for documentation of contributions and accomplishments, and erasure history.<\/p>\n

ROLL CALL:<\/strong> The Roll Call is an ever-growing list of international professional ballet dancers, past and present. Since its beginning, the Roll Call has grown to include more than 550 Black dancers, both historical and contemporary, with about 450 complete artist pages. In addition to its historical documentation, the list also serves as a database for organizations looking for Black dancers, teachers, choreographers or administrators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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TIMELINE: <\/strong>The site\u2019s timeline chronicles the contributions of Blacks in ballet (dancers, educators, directors, and choreographers). These moments are contextualized by juxtaposing them with key moments in history (World, Arts & Science, Sports, Civil & Human Rights).<\/p>\n

DIGITAL INSTALLATIONS: <\/strong>Iconic Black ballet figures are featured in full-scale digital installations that capture their humanity, allowing them to share their origin stories and experiences in the field. Each installation consists of film-quality video profiles (approximately 15 minutes in length, edited into five-minute sections), historical essays, photos, videos, and archival information, either housed on the site or via links. MoBBallet’s inaugural digital installation And Still They Rose: The Legacy of Black Philadelphians in Ballet<\/em> was generously funded by Knight foundation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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CONSTELLATION PROJECT:<\/strong> On February 1, 2021, the website launched the Constellation Project, which \u201cplaces key Black ballet dancers within a digitally rendered galaxy, where visitors can explore each star\u2019s \u2018orbit\u2019 and learn about the intersections and experiences that shaped the dancer\u2019s career.\u201d<\/p>\n

The site also hosts its Digital Learning Hub, where educational resources, essays and videos can be found.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Misty Copeland is promoted to principal at American Ballet Theatre<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When Misty Copeland was promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, she became the first African American woman ever to hold that position in the company. She was also the first African American woman to star in <\/em>Swan Lake at the MET with ABT.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in San Pedro, California, Misty Copeland<\/strong><\/a> began her ballet studies at the age of 13 at the San Pedro City Ballet. At the age of 15, she won first place in the Music Center Spotlight Awards. She then began her studies at the Lauridsen Ballet Center. Copeland has studied at the San Francisco Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre\u2019s summer intensive on full scholarships and was declared ABT\u2019s National Coca-Cola Scholar in 2000.<\/p>\n

Copeland joined ABT\u2019s Studio Company in September 2000, then joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2001. She was appointed a soloist in August 2007 and a principal dancer in August 2015.<\/p>\n

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Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Marcelino Samb\u00e9 is promoted to soloist with the Royal Ballet.<\/h3>\n
\n

\"\"Samb\u00e9 became an artist with the Royal Ballet in 2012 (before his graduation from the school), first artist in 2014, soloist in 2015, first soloist in 2017, and principal in 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

At age 16, Samb\u00e9 participated in the Prix de Lausanne, winning a scholarship to train at the Royal Ballet Upper School. During his training in London, he performed in John Neumeier\u2019s Yondering<\/em> and Alastair Marriott\u2019s Simple Symphony<\/em> at the School\u2019s annual matinee and a summer gala in Venice in 2012. Samb\u00e9 is the recipient of numerous awards: Moscow International Ballet Competition (silver medal, 2008), Youth American Grand Prix (first prize, 2009), USA International Ballet Competition (gold medal and special award, 2010), Critics\u2019 Circle National Dance Awards for Outstanding Male Classical Performance (2017) and Best Male Dancer (2019)<\/div>\n
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<\/h3>\n
\n

Other Happenings in 2015<\/h3>\n

Ballet\/Dance History<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jun 22: Albert Evans<\/a>, former New York City Ballet dancer, passes away.
\nNikisha Fogo<\/a> is promoted to demi-soloist at the Wiener Staatsballett.<\/p>\n

American History\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mar 9: US President Barack Obama signs an executive order declaring Venezuela a national security threat to the US.
\nApr 23: Loretta Lynch is confirmed as the first African American woman as US Attorney General.
\nJun 25: Obamacare subsidies in The Affordable Care Act are preserved by US Supreme Court Ruling.
\nSept 14: 14-year-old Texan Ahmed Mohamed is arrested at school when homemade clock is assumed to be a bomb.
\nDec 7: Time<\/em> Magazine readers name Bernie Sanders their “person of the year.”<\/p>\n

World History<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jan 23: Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is crowned King of Saudi Arabia.
\nMay 29: Muhammadu Buhari is sworn in as the President of Nigeria.
\nSept 9: Queen Elizabeth II becomes Great Britain\u2019s longest-reigning monarch at 63 years and seven months.
\nNov 16: French President Francois Hollande declares the country at war with ISIS in an address to parliament.<\/p>\n

Arts & Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jan 7: 41st<\/sup> People\u2019s Choice Awards\u2014Robert Downey Jr. and Jennifer Lawrence win for film, and Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo win TV.
\nJan 11: 72nd<\/sup> Golden Globes\u2014Boyhood<\/em>, Eddie Redmayne, and Julianne Moore win.
\nFeb 22: 87th<\/sup> Academy Awards\u2014Birdman<\/em> wins best Film and Director, Eddie Redmayne and Julianne Moore win best Actor and Actress, respectively.
\nApr 13: Avengers: Age of Ultron<\/em> premieres.
\nMay 5: Scientists announce the discovery of the oldest and most distant galaxy known to man.
\nJul 16: Scientists reveal first close-up pictures of Pluto sent by the New Horizons probe.
\nSept 8: Comedian Stephen Colbert debuts as the new host of CBS\u2019s The Late Show<\/em>.
\nSept 21 67th<\/sup> Emmy Awards\u2014Game of Thrones<\/em>, Viola Davis, and John Hamm win.
\nSept 28: NASA scientists announce the discovery of flowing water on Mars.<\/p>\n

Human & Civil Rights<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jun 26: US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal across all US States.
\nSept 1: Pope Francis tells priests to pardon women who have had an abortion in a letter released by the Vatican.
\nNov 12: Out<\/em> Magazine names Barack Obama “Ally of the Year;” Obama becomes first sitting US President to pose for the cover of a gay magazine.
\nDec 31: US law enforcement kills 1,134 in 2015; young Black men are nine times more likely to be victims.<\/p>\n

Sports<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jan 31: Australian Open Women\u2019s Tennis\u2014Serena Williams wins 19th<\/sup> career Grand Slam singles title.
\nFeb 1: Super Bowl XLIX\u2014New England Patriots beat Seattle Seahawks.
\nMay 2: Floyd Mayweather Jr. beats Manny Pacquiao with points in 12 rounds in world welterweight unification fight.
\nMay 4: Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry is named MVP for the 2014-2015 NBA season.
\nAug 27: 15th<\/sup> Athletics World Championships\u2014Usain Bolt adds the Men\u2019s 200m dash gold to his 100m win.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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