by Maria Alegre
First Program Librarian, The Dalton School
In September of 2013, I read the picture book Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated
by Christopher Myers. I knew of Misty through my interest in ballet, but the
world would come to know and love her the following year when her book would go
on to receive the Coretta Scott King Award for best illustrated book and she
would receive the Jack Ezra Keats New Authors Award Honor.
Misty’s ‘Under Armor’ sportswear ad would inspire millions
as her ballet school rejection letter was read aloud, belittling her late age
and too large frame (code: too black) as she danced with power and grace in
defiance of her critics. As her commercial went viral, so did her popularity.
She was on the cover of Time Magazine in their ‘100 Most Influential People’, she performed for President Obama, she toured with Prince, she
guest-starred in a hit Broadway musical and finally she achieved her dream of
becoming the first African-American prima ballerina in the ABT’s (American Ballet
Theater) 76 year history.
She will also be celebrated for her visit at The Dalton
School, where she read her book aloud to students K-3, although this may be low
on her list of accomplishments.
Actually, I take that last part back.
Two years ago, I swallowed my hesitation of reaching beyond
my realm and contacted her publisher for a visit. I told myself, “We’re not all
that different.” I’m a New Yorker, she’s a New Yorker. She wrote a picture book,
I’m a librarian. She mentors young children of color, I teach K-3 students at
an independent school with a mission of equity and inclusion.
What is the harm in trying to dance with the Firebird? Why
not reach for the stars?
At the time, I believe I may have been one of the first
school librarians to contact her about a visit. To my amazement, Misty wanted
to come! Perhaps because I asked Misty before she became world famous, perhaps
because her I asked her before she became and award-winning author. I can
speculate forever, but I think the main reason is the one that is the most
obvious – a librarian reached out and asked her to share her inspiring stories
with a school of young children, and she said yes!
Although I always do my homework for author visits, I went
above and beyond for Misty. I researched
the rest days and off-season for ABT performers, I asked my administration for
car service recommendations, I helped facilitate the largest signed book sale
in the Lower School’s history. I created a multimedia presentation to introduce
her visit. When I googled what she might like for breakfast upon arrival, I
decided to reign it in a bit.
All of it was worth it. While there was an undeniable
element of being star struck by someone whom I have admired from afar, in the
end we both had the same mission that day. We both wanted to enrich the lives
of children by introducing them to someone who had an inspirational story about
their determination and victory in the face of rejection and prejudice.
The great space between us grew closer. Misty admired our library,
she gushed over our students and she marveled over the intelligent and
thoughtful questions our children asked her. She spoke to them kindly and she
hugged them freely. There has been no question that Misty Copeland has received
many accolades, however reading her book to my students and sharing her story
isn’t a small one. After all, it took one afternoon at a Boys and Girls club
to introduce ballet to a young Misty Copeland and change her life forever.
Who knows what great things my students may accomplish after one morning when they were introduced to Misty Copeland?
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