Sundance Selects opens Nelson George’s documentary, "A Ballerina’s Tale" – a film about one of the most notable and trailblazing figures in the ballet world, Misty Copeland – today, October 14.
Directed and written by George, produced by Leslie Norville, and executive produced by Dorria L. Ball, Ingrid Graham and Copeland, the film provides a behind-the-curtain look at the daily life of Copeland, the first African American female soloist at New York’s American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in two decades. On June 30, 2015, Copeland became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT’s 75-year history.
The film is now out in a limited theatrical release, and will gradually expand in successive weeks (click here to find out if it’s coming to a theater near you). It’s also now available on Amazon and iTunes for those who don’t live in cities where it’s opening (or who would rather watch it in the comfort of their living rooms).
"A Ballerina’s Tale" is just one of a handful of upcoming Misty Copeland film/TV projects. Earlier this year, New Line Cinema optioned film rights to Copeland’s memoir, "Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina," which recounts her early struggles as a young dancer living in a welfare motel with her family. The book provides an insider’s look at the cutthroat world of professional ballet, telling a moving story of dreams and perseverance. Also announced this year, the Oxygen network announced plans for "The Misty Copeland Project," a series that will follow the star ballerina as she trains and mentors talented hopefuls from diverse backgrounds, who descend upon New York City to take on the next major step in their ballet careers.
A trailer for "A Ballerina’s Tale" is embedded below: