A Ballerina's Tale Page #5

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based on, maybe,

something they're not even

consciously aware of,

and it may be

the fact that I'm black.

It may be the fact

that I have a large chest.

It may be the fact

that I'm muscular.

They're reaching for change

in the classical ballet world

because they think

the art form is dying,

but if there isn't change,

how can it continue and grow?

I think there has

to be change happening.

Just over the course

of a couple of years,

there began to be a change.

Kevin McKenzie said to me,

"She's carrying herself

differently.

She is never late."

A focus happened.

When she realized

that she could represent

something even bigger,

not just a talented dancer

who happened to be

African-American

but a talented dancer who...

you can be like this too.

Like, it's okay

for you to do ballet.

It can be cool.

Your body type

isn't going to hold you back.

You can still become

this beautiful dancer.

I think when she realized

that she had

that opportunity to do that,

it became less

about just herself

and more about what she can do

to change the world.

There's a private moment

that's my favorite moment,

which is the day

she called me to say

that she had been promoted,

and we were both

just crying on the phone,

because there it was.

When she first called me

and told me,

"Oh, my God,

I'm gonna be the Firebird,"

now, again,

I'm not the ballet expert,

so I don't know

what "The Firebird" is.

So Raven Wilkinson,

who I'm sure she's told you,

the legendary ballerina...

I called Raven,

because Raven's

my history monitor,

and I said, "Do you know

if a black woman

has ever performed 'Firebird'...

the Firebird?"

And she said, "Well, yeah,

Dance Theatre of Harlem."

I said, "No, no,

at one of the majors,

like City Ballet,

American Ballet Theatre?"

And she said, "No."

I said, "Well, guess what.

"You got to buy a ticket

when they go on sale,

because Misty is gonna

be the Firebird,"

and she said, "Which one?"

She said, "Which one?"

And I said,

"No, the Firebird."

She said, the Firebird?"

"Yes, the... like,

the main... like, yes."

"The Firebird" is one

of the modern masterpieces,

both from the music standpoint

and the choreographic

standpoint,

and it was being reset

by Alexei Ratmansky,

who's widely hailed

as the sort of Balanchine,

the great choreographer,

the great ballet innovator,

the man who is going to save

ballet from obsolescence.

And he adores Misty.

I spent, like, I think

it was two weeks in this studio

just having "Firebird"

created on me,

which is really cool.

Alexei came in with an idea,

but he allowed us to be

a part of the creative process,

so if he saw that, you know,

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