Janet Collins and Misty Copeland
Janet Collins had the chance to attend the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, under the condition that she perform in whiteface. The skilled dancer declined the offer and went on to become the first black artist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. She died in 2003. Misty Copeland has taken a similar path to Collins’, becoming the third African American woman soloist, and the first in 20 years, at American Ballet Theater. The ballerina has danced with Prince, snagged an Under Armour commercial and authored a New York Times best seller. Last year, Copeland encouraged her social media followers to support the kickstarter campaign to produce a Janet Collins narrative. She tweeted, “Janet Collins changed the world of dance! Join @swtblackberry in bringing her story to kids.”