Entertainment

Why Misty Copeland's Docuseries Is Worth Watching

by Kenya Foy

Ballet aspirations are a completely unthinkable prospect for me and my two left feet, and I'm nowhere near daring and athletic enough to actually try and incorporate Misty Copeland's ballet techniques into a workout. However, watching the world-renowned ballerina dish professional dancing advice to up-and-coming performers on TV is definitely more my speed. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Copeland will be the subject of a docuseries on Oxygen. Announced under the working title The Misty Copeland Project, the series will show the 32-year-old serving as a mentor to several aspiring ballet dancers who are determined to take their careers to the next level in New York City.

Although emulating Copeland's moves are certainly out of the question for me, the classical ballet dancer's series should be a pretty interesting watch because, for one, most of the popular dance shows don't necessarily focus on ballet. Along with other ballet-centered projects like Breaking Pointe , a reality show about a Utah-based dance company, Copeland's docuseries will surely help to bring a broader audience to the inner workings of the world of ballet.

In a time where minority women continue to face unique challenges based solely on their gender and race, Copeland serves as an exceptional example of a woman who overcame those very struggles to excel in her field. After being declared a dance prodigy at the age of 13, the world-renowned ballerina dealt with issues such as poverty, racial barriers and a nasty custody battle that placed her between her mother and her ballet instructor when Copeland was only 15 years old.

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Despite the odds, Copeland made history when she became the second African-American female soloist in the American Ballet Theatre and has endorsed major brands such as Dr. Pepper and athletic brand Under Armour. In addition to serving as inspiration for ballerinas on the rise, The Misty Copeland Project is bound to highlight diversity issues in the industry while giving a larger platform to aspiring ballet dancers and beauty of pursuing one's passion.