C. Listening comprehension/Vocabulary

Practise your listening comprehension with this short film from Sky News about Misty Copeland making American Ballet Theatre history as First African-American principal dancer. Watch the video showing Misty Copeland dancing and talking. Then, fill in the blanks.


She’s been the subject of a documentary and written a best-selling memoir. She’s appeared on the cover of Time and presented at this year’s Tony Awards. Misty Copeland has achieved a pop culture status that’s extremely rare for a ballet dancer. Now, the has been named principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater. Copeland is the first African-American ballerina to hold the position in the 75-year history.
“My dream has been ABT since I was 13 and to be a dancer is reaching those heights and now, I feel like I can breathe.”
“Based on body type, pedigree and background, I should not have been a part of one of the world’s greatest ballet companies.”
Misty has often recounted her struggle to a leading ballerina in a world dominated by white dancers.
“I had moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didn’t know that there would be a future for an African-American to make it to this level. At the same time, it made me so hungry to push through, to carry the next generation. So, it’s not me up here and I’m constantly saying that it’s everyone that came before me that got me to this position and all the little girls that can see themselves through me, it’s giving them a brighter .”
In June, the took on the lead in Swan Lake, one of the most important roles in a ballerina’s repertoire.
“One of the ballet masters said to me yesterday:
- You know, don’t be offended by what I’m about to say. But, you know, I just look at you as a talented dancer that’s worked extremely hard to get these roles. So I didn’t even think twice that, you know, such a big deal for an African-American woman to be doing Swan Lake, I just think that you deserve it!” and that means so much to me. ”
Misty’s performance has already been credited with bringing a new diverse audience to .


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