Misty Copeland’s latest release, “Bunheads, Act 2: The Dance of Courage,” continues her mission of helping ballerinas of color see themselves reflected in the art, by telling a story about friendship, kindness, and the courage that comes from being part of a supportive community.
For young ballerinas of color, seeing themselves reflected on stage hasn’t always been easy. Pointe shoes rarely matched darker skin tones, and Black dancers were often absent from lead roles. Misty Copeland broke barriers as the first African American principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history.
Over the past decade, Misty has been paving the way for inclusivity, not just on stage, but in the pages of children’s books, with the first release of, “Bunheads,” in 2020, that chronicled her own experiences in ballet. Fast-forward and she has released a second book, “Bunheads, Act 2: The Dance of Courage.”
“We become our boldest selves when we feel seen and supported and loved,” Misty told Parents.com in a recent interview. “It is really about bringing forward how courage is rarely like an individual solo act. It’s this constant refrain that it’s about community and friendship and finding courage by having support.”
The story follows little Misty and her ballet friends as they rehearse for a production of Don Quixote. When her friend Cat twists her ankle and can’t perform, the girls discover that courage sometimes means celebrating someone else’s achievements, even when it’s not your turn in the spotlight.
“I want kids to know that it’s OK to have these kinds of upsets, or to me, I don’t think of them as failures. I think it’s an amazing lesson to be able to still find the courage to be in the theater and watch your friends perform when you’re not getting a chance to, and that growth comes from doing something difficult anyway, and you’ll come out on the other end stronger,” Misty said in her interview.
Illustrator Setor Fiadzigbey brings the 30-page story to life with vibrant depictions of ballet, capturing the energy and poise of each dancer.
“I think of dancers as superheroes,” Copeland said. “The forms that they’re in, the poses, the energy—it’s like they can do anything. He depicts that incredible energy so well, it jumps right off the page.”
Copeland, who began dancing at 13, reflects on how stories like “Bunheads” open doors for children who might not see themselves represented elsewhere. “Dance gave me that possibility and that space to be able to consider a future,” she said. For her, defending a dream means showing up, even when the odds seem impossible.
Though she recently announced her retirement from the stage, Copeland isn’t slowing down. “I feel like it’s time for me to make space…for the next generation of artists,” she said. Through books, her foundation, and her production company, she continues to create opportunities for young dancers to see themselves, dream big, and trust the communities around them.
“I hope that my legacy is to redefine what’s possible, in general, but also in dance and ballet,” she said. “I hope I’ve opened doors and shown little girls and boys, especially those of color, that they can be seen, they can be powerful, and they can do it with grace and fire and love.”
Photo Credit: Misty Copeland Instagram
