WTF!!!!!!!!

Literally what the fuck happened!!!

Michaela DePrince at the Women in the World Summit.

tell me this is slowed down

It is not :)  here’s the link to the video (it’s gorgeous) and that particular turn is at around 1 minute.

Seriously watch the whole thing because Michaela is amazing.

Michaela DePrince in rehearsal, photo for the Associated Press

Michaela DePrince

Michaela DePrince

“I believe that my race has played a part in not getting contracts. North American companies tend to shy away from black female dancers who are darker than a brown paper bag. I couldn’t get into classical companies in the U.S. and Canada. I would make the cuts in auditions and would be one of the last five dancers standing when the audition ended. I’d expect to get an offer, but I never would. After enough of these auditions I began to think that I was truly a dreadful dancer. Then, when I was 17, I auditioned for the Dutch National Ballet. After the audition, when [DNO Director] Ted Brandsen walked over to me and invited me to join the company, I said, “Really?” He sort of chuckled and said, “Yes, why didn’t you think you were good enough?” The truth was that by that point, I didn’t.

In the Dutch National Ballet, my race doesn’t affect my casting. I dance in both classical and contemporary ballets. I danced a solo in both Back to Bach and Swan Lake! I don’t know if it’s this way in other European classical companies, but in the Dutch National Ballet you are cast according to your dancing, not according to your color. I was thrilled when the English National Ballet offered a contract to Precious Adams, and I am delighted by the direction Benjamin Millepied is leading the Paris Opera Ballet. I think that North American companies need to jump on the bandwagon. For like Bob Dylan sang, “The times they are a-changin’…”

Something to be proud of..

Michaela DePrince and Samuel Wilson in the Black Swan PDD

Dance Theater of Harlem

Photo: Matthew Murphy

Michaela DePrince for Energetiks

Ebbe Sweet photography

Congratulations Rock alumna Michaela DePrince! Deprince was named Women in the World‘s 25 Under 25 by the Daily Beast!!

Here’s a nice article on “Mighty Michaela” by Dance Spirit Magazine!

 THIS IS SO FUCKING IMPORTANT!

black ballerina excellence

I'm so glad her Achilles problems seem to have gone away or at least are bothering her less.

Michaela DePrince. Don Quixote, Het Nationale Ballet De Junior Company.

Michaela!! She is such a lovely dancer it's great to see her doing well since First Position.

Michaela DePrince Ballet Dancer