Spun Silver
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Aftershocks, I wanted to reply because I've been wanting to address your feeling that you are being accused of "bad behavior" and/or being dismissed. I am not sure where that came from -- some post in this thread that I have forgotten, maybe? Or the general drift of the thread?Misty's limbs are long, but her overall height is short. I've not been regularly getting back here that often lately to schmooze and debate and write my lengthy points-of-view, as life has a way of happening.
Truthfully, everyone can and will think and perceive as they wish. It's often pointless to carry on conversations when we are talking past each other and/ or confusing what each other are saying because of seeing things from only our own individual rigid perspectives. Actually, I am seeing and understanding a lot of what people are saying, and there are a number of things being discussed, some of which are being confused. But if anyone is set on thinking that I am engaging in "bad behavior" in this thread, then I really doubt you care to read or truly understand what I'm saying anyway. You see "aftershocks," and it's over already! Yep, that aftershocks, why bother reading or listening! Oh well, sorry if I ever stepped on your toes and you can't forget the pain.
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In any case, I think it's disingenuous to dismiss the relevance and significance of Misty being a woman of color promoted to principal ballerina at a top ballet company. It rarely happens, but I think there are certainly a number of other accomplished black ballerinas who deserved/ deserve to reach that level. It's sort of similar to Halle Berry receiving the Oscar, when definitely there have been other very accomplished black actresses who just as much or more deserved to receive it as well, but didn't.
Nothing is wrong with your posts! People just have different perspectives. Obviously loads of people share your enthusiasm about Copeland and her story. I saw a link online to a story that called her the hottest ballerina in the world today - I think they meant popular, but maybe they meant sexy. Either way, you have plenty of company. It is pretty explicit from the "first African-American principal" story line that a lot, not all, of this interest is based at least as much on Copeland's race and life story as her actual dancing. She's also remarkably good at marketing herself which is pretty unusual in the ballet world. (Miko Fogarty and Michaela DePrince are two others who have done the same, with the help of the film First Position.) Probably a lot of the people who find Copeland's story compelling have relatively little previous knowledge of ballet, and that's fine - it means she's bringing new audiences to ballet. Yay for her.
I think what happened here is that you posted about Copeland's promotion in a section of the forum where a lot of longtime ballet lovers, including some dancers and ex-dancers, regularly discuss ballet in NYC. It is asking too much IMO to ask people who've seen all the world's great dancers to set aside their normal interest in and knowledge of technique, body line, style, interpretation, etc. I think there's a kind of culture clash between people talking seriously about ballet in general and people interested mainly in the first black principal dancer at ABT, if only because they are by and large two different groups with different perspectives and interests. Obviously there can be overlap as in your case.
Personally, I'm in the longtime ballet lover group and see the Copeland hoopla as a bit of a media construction in view of past principal dancers of color like Arthur Mitchell, Maria Tallchief, and a gazillion Cubans. I'm also an opera lover, a world where black sopranos and mezzos like Shirley Verrett (!!!), Leontyne Price, etc. etc. have been divas and stars for decades. There's a little ho-hum in my own reaction to this kind of story, sorry! I've been kicking around a long time....
You do seen a little fangirly or fanboyish in your habit of calling her by her first name, or maybe that is something Copeland encourages her fans to do. AFAIK most serious ballet lovers, as opposed to fans, stick to last names unless they actually know the person. (Have social media changed that? At least most posters here generally use last names.) That little thing alone has made me a little uncomfortable about posting in this thread. I didn't want to get attacked for not adoring Copeland. Now the thread has shifted to the "general ballet" perspective and I feel safe saying that, while I find Copeland's body amazing, I am not too taken with her dancing. I can see how she might be great in the right vehicles, but I am not very interested in modern ballets except Balanchine's. Or perhaps she just needs more experience to master the classical roles. But with the thread drift, now you, the person who started the conversation, in the first place, feel excluded.
Possibly the more you can enjoy your "overlap" position to navigate the two groups the less excluded you will feel? JUst a suggestion.Very sorry if this doesn't help. I have good intentions but talking about race is not my strong suit. (Disclosure: I am a social conservative and prefer to think in terms of merit rather than race.) I greatly respect your knowledge of figure skating and I like it a lot when you talk about ballet from the broad perspective that I'm familiar with. I just can't identify too much with the "Misty Copeland Story" point of view. No matter about me. Just wait for the Hollywood film in a couple years!
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You bring up some erroneous assumptions and some interesting observations as well. But I'm too busy right now unfortunately, or fortunately to respond on all your points. Ultimately, and in the scheme of important things in life, it don't matter right now. 
But once again, not here on FSU apparently.
