Misty Copeland: The First African American Female Principal Dance of the American Ballet Theatre

DETROIT - March 28, 2016 - PRLog -- Breaking barriers and inspiring other African American children to dream of becoming a world-class ballerina is what Misty Copeland has done. Because the Greater Wayne County Links (GWCL) and The Michigan Opera House (MOT) are committed to increasing diversity in the world of elite arts like ballet, they have partnered to provide up to 400 children with the opportunity to attend performances at the Detroit Opera House for the 2015-2016 season.

Next up is the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) brand-new production of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's monumental work, The Sleeping Beauty. Presented in collaboration with the University Musical Society and performed with the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, this classic ballet with more than 80 performers, including Misty Copeland, tells the enchanting tale of the beautiful princess cursed to sleep for 100 years by an evil sorceress, until awakened by the kiss of a handsome prince.

ABT will perform four performances from March 31-April 2. The Links fundraising event with VIP pre- and post-performance conversation with artistic personnel happens on opening night, Thursday, March 31 at the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St, downtown Detroit at 7:30 p.m.

"Because of the funding crisis in Detroit school districts, our Link 2 Arts 4 Life initiative with the MOT is one way to help bridge that gap for our kids in Detroit. We want them to have access to instruction in the arts - particularly dance.  We know that when children have access to the arts in or out of school, they perform better academically and are prone to more opportunities - like college scholarships," said Amy Parker, Links chapter president. (see http://greaterwaynelinks.org)

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 270 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.
The organization has nearly a 50-year commitment to supporting the fine arts throughout the country.  Links chapters nationwide partner with museums, orchestras, art councils, educational institutions and corporations to support opportunities for educating minority youth in the arts.
"We're also excited about supporting the America Ballet Theatre's Project Pile' - where we're awarding two Detroit area dancers scholarships to purse the goal of a professional dance career - similar to opportunities Misty Copeland received,"  said Amy Parker.

MOT's 2015-2016 dance season is supported by the Lear Corporation and additional support from Quicken Loans.

About Michigan Opera Theatre

Michigan Opera Theatre (Wayne S. Brown, President and CEO; David DiChiera, Founder and Artistic Director), one of the nation's most vibrant nonprofit arts organizations, is committed to presenting opera and dance of the highest artistic caliber. Founded in 1971, the company's mission is to serve as a major cultural resource to the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit. Visit the website at michiganopera.org.