Exclusive Interview: Misty Copeland as Ballerina Princess in Disney’s Nutcracker and The Four Realms #DisneysNutcrackerEvent Sunday 04 November, 2018

I was hosted and sponsored with an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles to cover #DisneysNutcrackerEvent. Thank you Disney for the opportunity! 

One of my main reasons why I was extremely excited to see Disney’s Nutcracker, was to see and support the beautiful and talented Misty Copeland. Her character poster of her representation of the Ballerina Princess took my breathe away. On the press trip I was excited to learn we were going to get an opportunity to interview her before we attended the #DisneysNutcrackerEvent VIP event and red carpet.

If you don’t know, Misty Copeland is a dancer for ABT (American Ballet Theatre), and in 2015, Misty became the first African American woman to be promoted to PRINCIPAL dancer in ABT’s 75-year history! What an honor and defining title for her as she makes history and carry a beautiful legacy in the ballerina world! Read below on our interview with the lovely Misty Copeland and how she shine in her first movie role!

How she got chosen to be the Ballerina Princess in the movie.

“They reached out to me which was kind of shocking.  I’m not an actress but I understand the Nutcracker connection.  They were really organic about letting me take the lead.  They’re like, we don’t know Ballet, this isn’t our world so like these teach us like you’re going to entrust that you’re gonna have the right team.  So they allowed me to choose a choreographer so I selected Liam Scarlett choregographer in residence for the Royal Ballet in London).   And he was young, it’s not common that you see like in the Ballet World.”

How Misty got her start as a ballerina and the way it built her self-esteem.

I feel like the first Ballet class I took was on a Basketball Court at the Boys/Girls Club in San Pedro, California, and I, I don’t want to say hated but it was not something I thought I was gonna do. All the other kids they were coming from under-privileged backgrounds like me and none of them danced.  And they were all older.  I was 13.  They all like their gear on, they had leggings or tights and I was in like these baggy Basketball shorts and socks and I was just like this just isn’t right.  It just doesn’t feel right.  And it was the first time that I was taken on Scholarship into the local Valley School.

I put on the pink tights and I put on the leotard and I could see myself in front of the mirror.  That’s when it clicked, I felt beautiful for the first time in my life. I felt right. I felt like everything that being a Black young girl, being super skinny and long legs and these massive feet and big hands and little head, of which everything was just wrong in the real world.  And I stepped into the studio and it was like everything is exactly right.  It gave me power and confidence and like I’ve never experienced before.

I was 13, yeah, it’s kind of crazy. I felt beautiful and I liked staring into a mirror [because] I thought I was not so pretty [before].

On if she did any special training for her choreography to prep for the ballerina.

 No just my normal — just my normal Ballet cause I don’t act in it, like I have no speaking parts in it.  I had some rehearsals, [but] my schedule [was] just so tight. The Choreographer Liam flew out from London to literally like there was no set plan.  So we filmed a lot of movement that I didn’t even really use in the film, but we did it because we wanted them to see [my] dance.  But then when we got on the set, we adjusted to being in this massive space where they created the sets and everything, and it made me feel like I was at home. It made me feel like I was in like the theater performing on a stage because it wasn’t like in front of a green screen.  It like allowed you to really feel the magic like you were actually there.  We just kind of adjusted the choreography or whatever I was gonna do to the camera angles and where the camera was flying in from, ‘like watch out, I’m gonna kick it’.But there were no special training, just the typical take on my Ballet class every morning and go to set and dance for like 10 hours.

On being made into her second Barbie Doll.

“The first one was like a lot of work and I was very involved. I made it very clear that I wanted it to be a true representation of me and what I stand for like just don’t take Barbie’s body and like paint her brown. I wanted her to have boobs, thigh muscles, calves, her nose to be wider than Barbie, and the lips to be full. They kept coming back to me and I was like, the boobs aren’t big enough. So then we padded the bra for the Firebird Barbie.

For the second Barbie, we already had the mold so all they had to do was put a white wig on her, a dress and they changed the makeup a little bit. It’s so incredible and something that I loved my whole life. I mean, my Mom had to take the Barbies away from me cause she was like it’s not OK at this age.  It’s amazing to have a brown Barbie that somebody can see themselves tied in.”

Her message to young girls who look up to her. 

I think that this film couldn’t be a more amazing platform for LA to be introduced to the masses, to those people that maybe, don’t feel welcome to step through the doors of the Metropolitan Opera House. The cast, being as diverse as it is, is amazing. And for this next generation to see a Brown Ballerina in this Nutcracker film that will live on and they’ll be able to say, Oh, that’s what a Ballerina looks like. But it’s not like that’s a Black Ballerina, it’s so rare. And that to me, is so incredible and empowering and I think that’s something that Disney Movies have done for me like growing up. I want them to see representation and possibilities and limitless opportunities for themselves. That’s what I hope they take away.”

Misty Copeland is the Ballerina Princess in Disney’s THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS.

Advice for people who would like to dance at an older age.

“I would say first of all do your research.  I think like the majority of the greatest Ballet Dancers all started after the age of 13, which is kind of crazy. And I think that it’s just proof that it’s not about that. I understand the reason that they like to start you out before you hit puberty so that they can really mold the body and becomes a second nature. You know, cause it’s so detailed like the ballet type move, that once you get to the level of a Professional, there are so many other things you’re thinking about that you can’t be thinking about the technique of it.”

“You’re learning Choreography for up to 10 Ballets in a week that you’re performing. You know, you’re growing as an Artist becoming a Character. There’s just so much to think about, that’s why we start so young. But it’s possible. I think that it’s about what you do with the time that you’re in the studio like taking 3 to 4 classes a day, just trying to like catch up. I think with the right support and the right will and push it’s possible to be anything you want to be.”

I was in awe on how beautiful and classy Misty Copeland presented herself to us. She definitely walk into the room like she is walking on air, gracefully like she is already dancing. I still love we interviewed her in our formal wear as we got ready for the VIP party and red carpet right after her interview. I am so proud of Misty Copeland on her first movie role and I wish her many more movie roles and great opportunities.

I will say she didn’t have any speaking roles, but please stay for the ending credits she has a breathtaking dance sequence that end the film so beautifully and truly gets you in the spirit of the holiday and give you the essence of The Nutcracker!

TRAILER

THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS 

https://www.facebook.com/DisneysNutcracker

https://twitter.com/DisneyStudios

https://www.instagram.com/disneysnutcracker/

https://movies.disney.com/the-nutcracker-and-the-four-realms

Disney’s Nutcracker in theaters November 2nd #DisneysNutcracker

Will you see Disney’s Nutcracker this holiday?

About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty


Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching. Follow her on her blog and social media at kiwithebeauty.com + @kiwithebeauty


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20 Comments

  • Alexandra says:

    What an inspiring woman! She is so lovely and beautiful.
    I really want to see this film !!

  • Wow, just wow. I take interviews too and I love reading them but this interview was beyond my imagination. So great.

  • Andreea says:

    Love it, she is such a good role model!

  • Tiffany La Forge-Grau says:

    I haven’t seen this yet! I’ve heard many great things about it. She’s so pretty!

  • Danielle says:

    Such an inspiration!! I am so excited to see this movie!!

  • this is so inspiring! i expect it to be a really good movie!

  • Daphne says:

    My daughter and I love Misty Copeland. She actually dressed up as her for Halloween. We saw this nutcracker on yesterday and Misty dances beautifully.

  • Misty is amazing. I loved her dance scene at the end of the movie! She truly is a role model for grown women and little girls alike.

  • We love Misty. She’s so talented. We can’t wait to see this movie.

  • Mimi Green says:

    I am geeking out right now. Misty Copeland is on my list of people I would love to meet. LittleCuteLips and I adore her, we already have her Firebird Barbie, and I just order the Nutcracker and the Four Realms Ballerina.

    I love everything about her, I already knew how she started and all of that but I love to read about it over and over again. LittleCuteLips did ballet because of her.

  • Leslie says:

    I absolutely loved reading this and seeing her on the big screen this weekend with my daughter. What a wonderful oppprtunity you had! Thanks for sharing!

  • I love Misty! This is a wonderful interview! I can’t wait to see the movie!

  • Olena says:

    I couldn’t wait for you to post your interview!! I am just in awe of Misty’s strength, poise, and grace. I enjoyed her sharing how pretty she felt once she was in tights. It proves that she had self-esteem issues at a young age and was no different from the normal teen. I also like the fact that she choose a young choreographer for the movie. She is opening doors for others just like she has opened doors for many black female ballerinas. What an honor!

  • Kim says:

    This is amazing! She got to do what she wanted with what she loves to do. I love her. We own both of her dolls 🙂

  • Kita says:

    I’m definitely heading out to see the Nutcracker this weekend with my daughter. Love Misty Copeland. She is also my daughter’s idol.

  • Stacie says:

    Oh, how beautiful you ladies look. And that Barbie is just gorgeous. What an honor it was to have met Misty!

  • Joyce Brewer says:

    Our son picked Misty Copeland to feature in a report for second grade. Even I learned more about her from working on it with him.
    I’ll have to see if he’d like to see this film.

  • Let me tell you how obsessed I am with Misty Copeland. I did ballet for 15 years so seeing her succeed makes me so emotional. Kudos to her!!!

  • Elle says:

    What a hugely special treat. I think Misty Copeland is beautiful and an icon. I love that you had a chance to meet her and hear her voice in person. This is a memorable experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.


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