A Ballerina's Tale (2015)

Cast

Victoria Rowell
as Herself

Get more information about A Ballerina's Tale (2015) on IMDb

Genres & Description

Action Documentary

6.4 / 10

A feature documentary on African American ballerina Misty Copeland that examines her prodigious rise, her potentially career ending injury alongside themes of race and body image in the elite ballet world.

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Comments on this trailer
Comments may include spoiler!

Moo Moo Puppy

Have you seen her perform on the Arsenio Hall show? So beautiful. - @Friday, October 19, 2018 6:17 PM

Anne's favourites

I saw Dance Theatre of Harlem when they toured UK in the late 1980s/early 1990s and they had black ballerinas dancing with them. - @Thursday, September 27, 2018 11:15 AM

Ching chong Ching chong Bitch

She is exaggerating her story too much. I started ballet because I was fat and I loved it. I lost the wait but it turned into me looking like one of those child body builders. And it's frigging okay. She makes it seem as though her body and race was a barrier. She had a perfect lean ballet body with amazing feet when she started and she still has the perfect body and she's not even that black she's like a light brown. They actually use bronzer to make her blacker in photoshoots and it pisses me off that she made so much money off of an exaggerated sob story. She is an amazing dancer and deserved everything she got but she's only famous for her story. - @Monday, July 2, 2018 1:18 PM

Kim Thu

I want to see this soooooo bad! - @Sunday, March 11, 2018 2:52 PM

ThePhilosopher1748

A ballerina, seriously? If she was white, nobody would know who the hell she is. - @Saturday, March 10, 2018 4:13 AM

Londzale

Worst occupation ever. - @Wednesday, February 7, 2018 10:09 PM

Some Things In Life

I knew I would hear that "Diversity" word.... - @Monday, January 29, 2018 5:08 AM

Azarkiem

I'm always amazed by the comments on the videos about Misty Copeland, between the one lowkey saying that she is "not black enough so it's not so hard for her" (???) and the one calling her whiny for pointing out racism in ballet (seriously, this girl danced an entire ballet on a broken leg, how whiny is that ?). And the one saying that "only talent matters". Well guess what, she is talented. Nobody can become a principal with ABT without talent. There's just too much competition between too much talented people. She is talented, and she faced extra problems that other dancers around her didn't faced because of her skin color, and she is vocal about it for the future black dancers student, because she faced herself the feeling that it was impossible because nobody (or almost) did it before. This is why she is talking about being a black ballerina : because if being a ballerina is tough, being a black ballerina is tougher. - @Monday, December 25, 2017 12:08 AM

elina gouva

If she started at 13 that is a great encouragment for older kids to try something that they are only supposed to start really young.I started artistic gymnastics at 16 and I know what it means. - @Friday, November 17, 2017 7:29 PM

Jamaican Queen25

So beautiful!! :) In every way - @Monday, November 13, 2017 1:32 AM

kairinaminemix

I do think she's very important in bringing ballet to black communities and just generally spreading education to different audiences. But that does not mean diversity should be forced into ballet. She got to where she is because she's obviously naturally talented given she started a pretty late age (12) and had a contract with a company at 16, she worked hard on her technical skills and believe it or not she has a great body for ballet. When I was watching this I couldn't believe that people were praising her for being a "curvy" ballerina when I've seen much curvier ballerinas our there. She maybe curvy compared to Russian ballerinas but in general she's very lean and limber like most ballerinas. Just watch the show "Dance Academy" all the girls there are pretty much white and are much more curvy than Misty is. - @Thursday, November 9, 2017 7:58 AM

Fotini Kokkini

Misty Copeland help me to stand up after a big fall. I broke my leg when I was on pointe shoes. This film is great. Thanks for all. Don’t give up guys - @Thursday, November 2, 2017 6:01 PM

The girl Who is

She's not even black - @Monday, September 18, 2017 2:52 PM

Nefertari

I don't know but I don't see her as black. Maybe her nose is typical for the black people but to me she is just darker and her nose is just about the only give away. True, her body is much different and I understand her frustrations of being bigger. Her body is larger and robust and ballerinas have always been viewed as ethereal. - @Friday, September 8, 2017 1:39 PM

Ella Asmirith

I am terrible at ballet.😖 - @Wednesday, September 6, 2017 8:15 AM

Carmen Moghini

PLEASE, someone can tell me the title of the music of this video? - @Tuesday, August 29, 2017 3:55 PM

Madison Bilbo

This is great - @Sunday, August 27, 2017 3:17 AM

Roxanne Moultrie

YASSSSSS QUEEN!!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 - @Saturday, July 29, 2017 3:45 PM

Pearl Productions

I NEED THIS MOVIE RIGHT NOW - @Saturday, July 29, 2017 12:15 AM

elfa

¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿???????????Poor EEUU - @Friday, July 28, 2017 3:52 AM

Heather Marie

'I'm a black dancer' I mean if you want people to stop stereotyping you because of your skin colour and boxing you into this type of person then just call yourself a dancer. Race doesn't have anything to do with it. Should've started with 'I'm a dancer' - @Sunday, July 23, 2017 10:42 PM

촬방[300목표]

발레 - @Friday, July 7, 2017 1:38 PM

Sienna Howard

I have to see this movie - @Saturday, July 1, 2017 1:45 AM

w0nd3r w4ll

0:41 "...I have a large chest..." LMAO where? - @Friday, June 30, 2017 6:48 PM

Morgana Lev

I wan't to be a ballerina but my parents can't afford :( - @Monday, June 26, 2017 12:21 PM

S. Y.

She's beautiful too! - @Tuesday, June 20, 2017 4:10 AM

Tyler Thompson

My idol 👑🙌🏾👌🏾 - @Wednesday, June 14, 2017 3:00 AM

thesleepingsoter

Black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black... I'm black. I'm discriminated against for being black. Take pity on my, I'm black. Promote me, I'm black. You don't like my dancing? Why, you're a racist because I'm black. - @Tuesday, May 9, 2017 8:58 AM

martha jane

I love this little lady, she is beautiful and dances beautifully, this is wonderful her story on so many levels, i wish her only the best. When people wrongly compare her to others who began lessons at age 3 in the best schools i realize it is done to deminish her talent, but we know better, Misty don't entertain their jealousy or racism rise above it as you have always done, you have a hugh following, so stay on those toes, Brava, beautiful ballerina you've arrived and we love you.(:) - @Thursday, May 4, 2017 11:31 PM

nicodemus odens Carther

the beauty isnt dark, the beauty is light and white like the sun, never black as darkness. an african ballerina is an aberration to human nature, love your people is good, love your race and heritage is good, dont betray them 14 - @Monday, May 1, 2017 10:37 AM

el_ballerina13

I love her sooooooooooooooooooooooo much - @Sunday, April 30, 2017 1:41 PM

Lesley Van Der Vliet

this inspired me so much to start ballet at my 13 - @Friday, April 28, 2017 10:53 PM

Brittani DeTiege

People just don't understand...smh - @Friday, April 21, 2017 1:14 AM

catherine pahulu

this is really inspiring - @Thursday, April 20, 2017 1:48 AM

Rain Chang

So are they going to make a film about a ballerina who is a transgender woman next? - @Wednesday, April 19, 2017 11:28 AM

Melissa

you are so beautiful! - @Tuesday, April 18, 2017 7:24 PM

Ayla Stackhouse

So many of you are absolutely misunderstanding this. Until recently, the world of ballet was extremely strict when it came to the appearance of dancers. The ideal ballerina was extremely thin, lean but not "muscular", flat chested, long necked, long legged, etc. And she most definitely was NOT a person of color. If Misty were to walk into the Bolshoi when she was thirteen, they wouldn't have given her more than 2 seconds of a glance, even though she was so gifted. Yes, there are other black dancers in the world. Michaela de Prince and Precious Adams were named in the comments, yeah they exist and they're beautiful dancers. But MISTY was the one who pretty much paved the way for those girls, and she provided the representation that was needed in the black community. We didn't really have a ballerina who was a woman of color to look up to who was in ABT or the Royal or Bolshoi or any of these major dance companies. When I was 12, I wanted to take ballet class but was afraid because I was busty, black, muscular, and too old. I just accepted the fact that it was unacceptable and no one would take me seriously. Then I saw a video posted by Anaheim Ballet featuring Misty. She wasn't saying, "pity me i'm black and they don't accept me and it's been hard because people are prejudice and they don't even realize it." She wasn't complaining or asking for sympathy. She is sharing her story to let myself and other young women know, IT IS POSSIBLE. - @Sunday, April 9, 2017 2:06 AM

Shaaay XP

Took me a full minute to actually see that she was 'black' - @Wednesday, April 5, 2017 10:56 PM

Kono Dutch

Not that I don't support her being a ballerina but it is important to note that ballet is part of European culture which is why there happens to be more individuals of European decent that are represented. No offence but if this were an Anglo female talking about African dance she would have to be very careful with her word choice and also be accused of cultural appropriation. - @Tuesday, April 4, 2017 8:18 PM

simba lee

Don't blame others for lack of diversity okay if black women are not going into ballet nearly as much as white woman are how can there be diversity? Don't blame others instead encourage young black girls to take up ballet then you see more diversity as apposed to stating the obvious and not coming up with a solution - @Tuesday, April 4, 2017 12:20 AM

ChaoticButterfly

I love Misty Copeland. - @Monday, April 3, 2017 2:26 AM

Yiru Shao

Beautiful ballerina. - @Sunday, April 2, 2017 11:18 PM

DanceLifeLoveTV

I love Misty Copeland and her story. Such an inspiration!! I cannot believe the number of judgmental comments in this post. This woman has broken a lot of boundaries: starting ballet at 13, not being the "ideal" ballerina body type, and being the FIRST African-American PRINCIPAL ballerina at ABT. She literally started from nothing and has made a name for herself. - @Sunday, April 2, 2017 5:40 PM

Neela Delphine

As a young girl, one of my favorite movies was Center Stage. I just loved Zoe Saldana in that movie. Never saw that she was different than me because of her skin tone.. I don't know what this got to do with ballet? It's about talent and passion in my opinion 🤔 - @Sunday, April 2, 2017 1:33 PM

silja lin

Let me go find the world's smallest violin and play it for you while you monologue about you being a black ballerina and how that somehow is relevant to your career. This is how the real world works: do you work really hard? yes? Are you really good at what you do? Yes? Do we really need your talent? Yes? Good, you're hired. What is not relevant is: Your race Your gender Your sense of entitlement It makes you look weak as fuck when you whine about irrelevant crap like this. There are not many black (btw didn't notice you were black until you started slamming it into my face repeatedly) ballerinas out there but you know what? It probably has more to do with the fact that most black people aren't interested in ballet. Just like there aren't that many white rappers. Do you see white rappers whining about the lack of representation of their skin color in rap music? And if you do, does that not sound petty and weak as fuck to you? Because it sure as hell does to me :D Do your passion, focus on what matters and stop whining about stuff that has absolutely no relevance for your successes or your failures. If you fail and you start blaming everyone around you, then you will not get better. If you take your failures and try and figure out how to improve yourself, you will become a winner. What you are doing right now is loser mentality and it is not inspirational in the slightest to look at. - @Sunday, April 2, 2017 9:53 AM

akidin06

i mean yes she is amazing. but so many other dancers do not fit the mold...how about tall dancers?? - @Sunday, April 2, 2017 7:13 AM

Channel for Positivity l Understanding l Justice

Misty Copeland defied the odds to reach the highest top So Inspirational <3 - @Sunday, April 2, 2017 3:44 AM

HolandaChiquita

Erm... If she's consideret as "black", she must be considered as "white" too... Since she's clearly bi-racial... - @Saturday, April 1, 2017 12:51 PM

Nesseire

Perhaps there aren´t so many black people that dance ballet in comparisson with people of other races. Also, being first ballerina is tremendous difficult, not everyone can achieve it. It not depends on your squin colour, it depends on your squill. I´ve always heard that russian girls were the best, because the had a very hard training (not because they were white or russian) - @Friday, March 31, 2017 5:20 PM

Alex Anderson

I don't want to downplay Misty's achievements, but I hear some people mistaking her as the first black ballerina. Lauren Anderson was a principle dancer with the Houston Ballet in the early 2000s, and there are many more black dancers. - @Wednesday, March 29, 2017 9:48 PM