Blog: Final Project

 Sophie O’Donnell

17 November 2020

UKC 114

The goal of my final project is to show how Misty Copeland broke barriers in ballet by becoming the first African American to be a key performer in American Ballet Theatre. I think the best way to do this project is through a website on Weebly. This way I can organize my project so that it is aesthetically pleasing and incorporates photos and videos of Copeland. Since ballet is such a visually pleasing sport, I figured writing a paper was not the best way to show off Copeland’s talent. It will also be easy to organize the website into sections so I can discuss different aspects of her impact on ballet. Maybe a small section about her personal life/ upbringing, followed by her time at ABT, and the lasting effects on the company, sport of ballet, and world. The argument I am making is that Copeland’s time as a dancer impacted society and the sport of ballet due to the fact that she does not portray the stereotype of a ballerina that is often depicted as thin and white. I am arguing that her work has forever shaped ballet and its future dancers. This project can analyze sport and breaking down barriers, along with acknowledging the sport of ballet and its history over time. By looking at ballet’s history, I will be able to convey how significant Copeland’s time as a dancer has been in the ballet world and how she has opened doors for dancers of all ethnicities to feel more comfortable performing in a sport that tends to be dominated by whites.