Swan Lake, April 8-12, 2015

[Natalia]

They want to see Copeland at the front of the bus, within one of the top-6 companies on earth, dancing the "whitest" of roles.

[Tapfan]

I wish there were other black female dancers with with high profiles.

[abatt]

Tapfan, there are. Alicia Graf Mack, Linda Celeste Sims. They have high profiles in dance circles, but are not media celebrities.

[its the mom]

Also, Michaela DePrince, Celine Gittens, Tanya Howard, Kimberly Braylock, Courtney Lavine, along with others who are not African-American, but of different ethnicities and definitely not caucasian.

[Helene]

If you want to discuss critic/critical reaction, do so in the "Writings on Ballet" or on the Copeland thread in the "Dancers" forum. This is not new.

[Tapfan]

Tapfan, there are. Alicia Graf Mack, Linda Celeste Sims. They have high profiles in dance circles, but are not media celebrities.

But Alicia switched to Modern after DTH went on hiatus. And isn't LCS also a modern dancer?

It's not that I think modern is some how a lesser art form than ballet. It's just that it seems next to impossible for black women to break through to the senior ranks in ballet in a non-black majority company. I'd like to see it in my lifetime.

[Tapfan]

Also, Michaela DePrince, Celine Gittens, Tanya Howard, Kimberly Braylock, Courtney Lavine, along with others who are not African-American, but of different ethnicities and definitely not caucasian.

Oh, I've heard of all these young women. But with the exception of Michael DePrince who has a compelling personal history, because none of these women are principals, it's next to impossible to follow their careers.

[sandik]

It's just that it seems next to impossible for black women to break through to the senior ranks in ballet in a non-black majority company. I'd like to see it in my lifetime.

Your lips to the gods' ears

[its the mom]

Both Tanya and Celine do principal roles with their respective companies. Just google their names and you can information, interviews and reviews.