While Prince's passing was a huge shock [1], it's no surprise that the ultimate purveyor of soul and cool was a devoted ballet fan [2] — and one of Misty Copeland's first fans. Years before she became famous for her inspiring commercials [3] and status as the first black principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater [4], in 2009, Prince selected Misty to appear in his music video for "Crimson and Clover." The rest is history. Misty joined the icon on tour in Europe and for his "Welcome 2 America" shows at Madison Square Garden in New York.
While it's safe to say Misty's success is the result of her own talents, Prince certainly ensured she got the attention and accolades she deserved. In 2015, his funding was critical to the production of a documentary about Misty's life, A Ballerina's Tale, and he continuously donated to the American Ballet Theater throughout his career. Below is a video of the two stars performing together on Lopez Tonight.
Prince and Misty Copeland perform "The Beautiful Ones" [5]Prince performs "The Beautiful Ones" with the help of prima ballerina Misty Copeland How Prince Introduced Misty Copeland to the World: http://goo.gl/U4JDHd
Posted by For Harriet [6] on Saturday, April 23, 2016
Related: Meet the Tiny Ballerinas Following in Misty Copeland's Footsteps [7]