Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina
Page 23
perfection sought by, 25, 72, 95, 155, 236–37, 252, 256, 259
in performance, 25, 95, 170
pressures on, 93–94, 124–25, 143, 161, 166, 167, 170–71, 177, 182, 221, 252, 257
principal dancers, 7, 154, 156, 158–59
qualities required by, 108–9
roles assigned to, 158–59
ballet:
appearance as critical in, 108, 165–66, 167
artistic directors’ roles, 198–200
assemblé, 129
audiences, 7–8, 216, 235, 260–61
ballon, 162
barre à terre, 255
basic positions, 36–37, 70
black community of, 7, 87–88, 228, 232
brisé, 107
chaîné, 30
classes, 157–58, 164, 237
competitions entered, 90, 200–202, 229–31
competition within, 129, 155, 198, 228
corps de ballet, 154, 156, 158, 172
dancing in pain, 159, 177, 230, 246–47, 248
eating disorders, 167–69
échappés, 202
entrechat, 118
épaulement, 73
esprit de corps, 6, 241
fondu, 2
fouetté, 70, 93, 96
freelance engagements, 157, 216–18, 221, 226
glissade, 2, 118
grand allegro, 107
grand battement, 218
grand jeté, 37, 105, 118, 163
hard work in, 69–72, 129–30, 144, 149, 259, 261
here today, gone tomorrow, 160, 253, 257
hierarchies in, 156
injuries in, 160
lengthening the body for, 165–66, 171
as Misty’s world, 43, 46, 62–63, 67, 68, 74, 89, 122, 128, 130, 137, 152–53, 162–63, 170, 187, 190, 197, 203, 208, 209, 236, 255
pas de deux, 4, 71, 105, 144, 152, 201
passé, 69–70
petit allegro, 107
piqué, 31
piqué ménage, 94
pirouette, 37
plié, 2, 69
port de bras, 2, 256, 258
and race issues, 52, 98, 101–2, 143, 156, 163, 173–76, 177, 183, 226–29, 235, 236, 251, 252
ronds de jambe, 2, 129
schedules in, 156–59
stamina needed in, 105, 158, 162, 166, 169, 258
summer programs, 97–99, 103–5, 130, 135, 183
temps de cuisse, 107, 117
tendu, 2
“white ballets,” 174, 175
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 175, 226
Bancroft, Anne, 148
Bartell, Steven, 121–22, 123
Baryshnikov, Mikhail “Misha,” 73, 75, 136, 142, 148, 149, 224
Bassett, Angela, 87
Beating the Odds (TV), 91, 97
black ballerinas, 226–29
as family, 241–42, 249, 253
iconic roles danced by, 1–2, 241–42, 247, 249–50, 251
on Met banner, 246, 253
Misty as role model for, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 210, 236, 237, 245, 247, 248, 259–61, 262
and race issues, 52, 98, 101–2, 143, 156, 163, 173–76, 177, 184, 226–29, 235, 236, 251, 252
soloists, 210–11, 231
“Where Are All the Black Swans?,” 175–76, 177
Bolshoi Ballet, 98
Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, 25
Boston Ballet, 98, 128, 175
Boys and Girls Club, San Pedro, 30, 42, 56, 185
ballet classes, 32–33, 34, 38–39, 69, 107, 117, 139, 233, 237, 260
Boys and Girls Clubs of America:
Hall of Fame, 232–33
Misty as ambassador for, 259
Project Plié, 260
Bradley, Cindy:
ambitions for Misty, 43–45, 73, 78, 97, 113, 114, 163
at Boys and Girls Club ceremony, 232–33
classes at Boys and Girls Club, 32–33, 34, 38–39, 69, 107, 117, 260
dance schools of, 34–41, 116–17, 202, 210
dancing career of, 35, 67
as free spirit, 35, 43, 81–82
influence on Misty, 78–81, 83–85, 115–18, 124, 134, 174
Misty forced to leave, 86–87, 197
Misty living with, 65, 66–68, 75–80, 114, 116, 156, 196, 234, 235
and Misty’s dancing, 62–63, 70, 82, 87, 89, 93–94, 96, 97, 110, 117–18, 119, 130, 155, 182, 247, 256
and Misty’s emancipation, 121–23, 124–25, 232
and Misty’s mother, 39–40, 63–65, 83–87, 111, 114, 116, 117, 118–19, 130–33, 139
and Wigs, 36
Bradley, Patrick, 36, 66–68, 71, 73, 81, 232
and family life, 75–78, 86, 114, 116, 117, 125, 134
and Misty’s emancipation, 124–25
Bradley, Wolf (Wolfie), 67, 68, 75, 76, 78, 81, 120
Braxton, Toni, 78, 178
Brooklyn Academy of Music, 219, 222, 234
Brown, Isabel, 148, 190, 212
Browne, Leslie, 148, 212–13
Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, 25
Cantine, Elizabeth, 164, 182, 232
and Cindy, 32–33, 69, 119
and drill team, 27, 28, 30–32, 69, 119, 260
and Misty’s dancing, 32–33, 71, 133, 135
Cantine, Richard, 69, 135, 164, 232
Carey, Mariah, 23, 25, 26, 31, 55, 133, 137, 178
Carmelite Sisters Teresas of San Joseph, New York, 136–37, 138
Catalina (friend), 41–42, 164
Catherine “Bubby” (Cindy’s mother), 75–77, 96, 156, 206
Chambers, Veronica, 249
Charles, Uncle, 57–58, 60
Chocolate Nutcracker, The, 87–89, 90, 145, 160
Cinderella, 185
Coca-Cola Scholarship, 146, 229
Comaneci, Nadia, 21, 22, 73
Copeland, Chris (brother), 18, 19–20, 83, 247
as attorney, 170, 208
as cook, 59, 115
and Doug Senior, 203, 205
and Robert, 49–50, 53
Copeland, Doug (father), 9, 24, 56, 61, 203–7, 209–10
Copeland, Doug, Jr. (brother), 17, 19, 48, 56, 83, 115
and Doug Senior, 203, 204–6
and Robert, 49–50, 53
Copeland, Erica (sister), 17, 19–20, 54, 55, 83
and drill team, 27–28, 39
and family matters, 61, 132, 146, 203, 205, 208
and Jeff, 40, 63, 208
and Misty’s dancing, 115–16
and Robert, 46–47, 53
Copeland, Misty:
as ABT corps member, 5, 7, 154, 158, 164, 165–66, 176
and ABT Studio Company, 139, 145–47, 150, 151, 152–54
auditioning, 97–99, 135, 155
and backup plans, 93–97, 127, 166
balance sought by, 169–70, 253–54, 262
ballet world of, see ballet
at the barre, 33, 43, 233
birth and childhood of, 9–22, 187, 197, 207, 209
and body shape, 103, 109, 145, 161, 162–71, 173, 180, 182, 188, 192, 236, 245, 250, 252
career of, 151, 154–56, 231
choreographing dances, 26, 31, 215, 219, 220–21, 222, 240
and Cindy, see Bradley, Cindy
as Clara/Clare, 87, 88–89, 101, 139, 160–61
dancing in pain, 159–60, 230, 244, 246–47, 248, 252–53
developing confidence, 196–99, 224–25, 226, 252
and drill team, 27–32, 39, 43, 68, 89
eating disorder, 167–69
and emancipation, 120–23, 124–25, 232
extracurricular activities of, 259–61
feeling special, 77, 150, 182, 233
financial concerns of, 69, 104, 146, 155–56, 166
as Firebird, 1–8, 238–39, 241–44, 245–50, 252, 253, 261–63
first ballet lessons, 36–38
and gymnastics, 21–22
and her father, 203–7, 209–10
injuries to, 159–61, 244, 251–53, 256, 2
61
innate talent of, 4, 21, 32, 35, 37–38, 70–72, 88–89, 91, 92–93, 104, 107, 129, 139, 145, 195, 240
insecurities of, 112, 155–56, 161, 165, 167–70, 185, 187, 234–35
isolation of, 176, 177, 179, 182–83, 188, 189, 228
as Kitri, 15–16, 73, 90, 92–93, 94, 96, 139
media stories about, 89, 91, 97, 116, 122–23, 124, 126–27, 130–33, 143–44, 152, 235, 242–44, 249, 257–59
mentors and supporters of, 69, 105–6, 113, 117, 119, 134, 163–64, 175, 181–82, 188, 199, 212–13, 227, 230, 235, 247, 248–49, 260
on Met banner, 246, 253
migraines of, 22, 128, 152, 211
movement as escape for, 3, 22, 23–26, 37, 42
perfection as goal of, 19, 25, 38, 62, 95, 126, 129, 196, 220, 221, 234, 236–37, 259
in performance, 19–20, 25, 26–27, 62–63, 88–89, 91–93, 94–95, 170, 195, 217–18, 221–24, 236, 247–48, 257, 261–63
and race, 52, 143, 156, 163, 173–76, 235, 236, 242, 251, 252
in rehab, 255–57
and Robert, 22, 24, 47–48, 49, 75, 110, 203
as role model, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 210, 236, 237, 245, 247, 248, 259–61, 262
and school, 20–21, 81, 111
socializing, 168, 193–94
as soloist, 5, 143, 144, 210–11, 231, 237, 247
technical breakthroughs of, 221, 226
teen years, 38, 70, 82, 86, 87, 92, 93–97, 100, 126, 136, 151, 154, 163, 199
travels of, 150–51, 153, 207, 209, 222, 237
as worrier, 18–19, 25, 33, 38, 262
Copeland, Raven (Doug Jr.’s wife), 208
Copeland family:
chaotic life of, 22–23, 24, 61–62, 83, 117, 121, 123–25, 126, 207–8, 234
characteristics of, 16–18, 208–9
family pattern, 9–10, 13, 56–57, 186, 203
financial worries of, 25, 62, 126
life with Harold, see Harold
life with Robert, see Robert
living in motel, see Sunset Inn
and media stories, 131–32
and Misty’s dancing, 116, 180, 242
and racism, 52
and sports, 22–23, 115
as unified tribe, 60, 83, 116, 204
Corella, Angel, 74
Cornejo, Herman, 242–43
Cultural Centre, Hong Kong, 222
Cunningham, Randall, 49
Dana Middle School, 19, 126
drill team, 27–32, 39, 43
Dance Magazine, 74, 135, 143
Dance Theatre of Harlem, 6, 97, 175, 178, 183–86, 195, 240, 241
Danielle (friend), 26, 31
DelaCerna, Cameron (brother), 53, 54, 55, 68, 126, 208
and Robert, 18, 51, 52, 61, 83, 110
DelaCerna, Sylvia (mother), 55–65
adoption of, 13–14, 206
at Boys and Girls Club ceremony, 232–33
as cheerleader, 23, 39
childhood of, 13–14, 56, 204, 206
children of, 9, 18, 20, 56, 65, 78, 186, 204
and Cindy, 39–40, 63–65, 83–87, 111, 114, 116, 117, 118–19, 130–33, 139
and Doug, 56, 203–4, 205, 206–7
and Harold, 12, 13, 14
jobs held by, 55–56, 78, 133–34
and men, 9, 14, 18, 24–25, 26, 53, 57, 58–60, 126, 133, 197, 234
and Misty’s childhood, 10, 18, 19–20
and Misty’s dancing, 40, 63–65, 83–87, 89, 96, 110–11, 118–19, 146, 150, 180, 187, 214, 242, 247
and Misty’s emancipation, 122–23, 124–25, 127
personal traits of, 13, 55–56
and responsibility, 59, 64, 121, 207
and Robert, 47, 50, 51–55
wanting Misty back home, 110–11, 113, 114, 118–20, 123, 124, 163–64
Delman, Gregg, 259
Diggs, Taye, 194
Don Quixote:
Dryad Queen role in, 257
flower girl variations, 202, 237
Kitri role in, 15–16, 73–74, 90, 91, 92–93, 96, 114, 139
pas de deux, 73, 127
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 15–16, 74, 93, 114
Dutch National Ballet, 176, 227
Ellis, Ashley, 128, 138, 144, 145, 149
emancipation:
of child performers, 120–23, 127
fought by Misty’s mother, 122–23, 124–25
Misty declared emancipated minor, 121–22, 232
petition withdrawn, 125, 153
English National Ballet, 98
Erik Bruhn Competition, 229–31
Extra, 126
Eyes That Gently Touch, 224
Fales, Timothy, 181
Fales-Hill, Susan, 181–82, 188, 242
Fayyaz, Leyla, 151, 153–54, 155, 164, 167–68, 177, 192–93
Firebird, 237–50
critical reviews, 242–44, 249
dancing in pain, 244, 246–47, 252–53
Misty as Firebird in, 1–8, 238–39, 241–44, 245–50, 252, 253, 261–63
pas de deux, 240
Ratmansky as choreographer for, 4–5, 239–40, 243
on the road, 242–43
schedule for, 238–39
story of, 237–38
unique performances in, 239–40, 243, 259
Forum, Los Angeles, 224
Garland, Robert, 250
George, Nelson, 7
Gibbons, Leeza, 131, 132
Giselle, 109, 154, 165, 174, 175, 185, 201, 262
Glass, Philip, 144–45
Gong, 196
Gooding, Cuba, Jr., 232
Graham Central Station (funk rock group), 216
Grandma Marie, 31, 48, 206
Grandpa Martin, 48–49
Graves, Lorraine, 250
gyrotonics classes, 256–57
Haley, Jason, 42
Hallberg, David, 152, 225
Harold (stepfather), 16, 50, 204
leaving, 13, 14, 24, 26, 61, 68, 86, 208, 211
life with, 10–14, 19, 46, 47, 54, 76, 203, 206
and Lindsey, 11, 12, 61, 83
Herrera, Paloma, 73, 74–75, 114, 127, 133, 136, 235
and Dance story, 143
Misty’s first meeting, 140, 141–44
as role model, 74–75, 92
Houston Ballet, 98
Irving “Papa” (Cindy’s father), 75–76, 156
Jeff, and Erica, 40, 63, 208
Jessica (friend), 102–3, 105, 114, 135
Jimenez, Tai, 175, 228
Joffrey Ballet, 94, 97, 98, 104, 138
Johnson, Magic, 232
Johnson, Virginia, 240
Jones, Star, 7
Kansas City Chiefs, 23, 39, 57
Karl Marx Theatre, Havana, 222
Kayako (roommate), 102–3, 105
KCET-TV, 90, 97
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 183
Kirkland, Gelsey, 73, 74, 92, 136, 142, 143, 149, 167
Kirov Ballet, 98, 245
Kniaseff, Boris, 255
Koch Theater, New York, 157
Krispy Kreme doughnuts, 168–69
Kudo, Elaine, 149, 224
Ku Klux Klan, 176, 226
Kylián, Jirí, 230
La Bayadère, 74, 151, 154, 174, 252
Gamzatti role in, 244–45, 248, 249, 250–51, 253
Nikiya role in, 262
Lansing, Mike, 38
La Scala opera house, 98
Lauridsen, Diane, 127–28, 129–30, 164, 182, 252
Lauridsen Ballet Centre, 119, 127–30, 138, 147, 163, 204, 252
Le Corsair, 108
Lee, Debra, 7, 249
Leeza, 131, 152
Leonard, Sugar Ray, 232
Liebert, Marjorie, 255–56
Lindsey (sister), 18, 54, 68, 96, 126, 133, 147
birth and childhood of, 10, 11–12, 23–24
and Harold, 11, 12, 61, 83
and Robert, 46, 50–51, 174, 203
wedding of, 208
Lopez, Jennifer,
232
Los Angeles Times, 126, 243
Los Angeles Times Magazine, 89
Lotus, New York, 193–94
Mack, Alicia Graf, 176, 228
Mack, Craig, 24
MacLaine, Shirley, 148
Madison Square Garden, New York, 219, 222–24
Madonna, 74
Makarova, Natalia, 73, 149, 232, 245, 249
Malcolm X, 192
Maple, Charles, 71, 93, 100–102, 108
Margeaux (roommate), 138
Mariah (niece), 205, 208
Martins, Peter, 183
Matthews, Jared, 221, 230
McAdams, Rachel, 216–17
McKenzie, Kevin:
anniversary of, 5, 248
as artistic director, 5, 158–59, 179, 197–200, 248, 258
challenges presented by, 200–202, 229–31, 245, 248
and Misty’s career, 143, 145–46, 150–51, 160, 164, 173, 182, 186, 197–200, 226, 229–31, 235, 238–39
and Misty’s performances, 7, 200, 230, 249
Meehan, John, 139, 145–46, 150, 225
Metropolitan Opera House, 90, 232
ABT spring seasons in, 157, 173, 242
banner on facade of, 246, 253
post-performance in, 199–200
preparation in, 5–6
rehearsals in, 4, 173–74, 246
on stage in, 1, 7, 8, 25, 185, 209, 221, 222, 234, 245–48
Miami City Ballet, 98, 201
Michael, George, 27, 28
Mike (stepfather), 56
Miller, Roger, 35
Mitchell, Arthur, 6, 7, 183–86, 224, 242, 250
Monique, Auntie, 57–58, 60
Morissette, Alanis, 110, 114
National Ballet of Canada, 98, 229
National Ballet of Spain, 106
New Edition, 26, 50, 178
New York City:
ABT seasons in, 156–57
Misty’s apartments in, 190–91
Misty’s life in, 136–38, 153–54, 188–94, 204
New York City Ballet, 98, 176, 183, 201
New Yorker, The, 249
New York Times, 74, 175–76, 177
Nureyev, Rudolf, 73, 106
Nutcracker, The:
and Chocolate Nutcracker, 87–88, 145, 160
guest performances in, 100–101
in rehearsal, 219
role of Clara in, 87, 101, 139, 160, 161
Olu (friend), 194–97, 214, 221
Osipova, Natalia, 240, 249
Pacific Northwest Ballet, 97, 98
Palos Verdes Art Center, 62
Paquita, 145
Paris Opera Ballet, 98
Pavam, Renata, 153
Peterson, Kirk, 139, 144–45, 224
Petite Mort, 230
Phillips, Jackie, 11–12, 30, 111
“Please Mr. Postman,” 20, 247
Pointe magazine, 74, 115
Point Fermin Elementary School, 16, 26, 89
Poitier, Sidney, 77
Powell, Adam Clayton, Jr., 192
Premice, Josephine, 181
Prince, 213–25, 235, 242
“The Beautiful Ones,” 220, 222