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☆ Michaela DePrince, a Sierra Leonean American ballerina for Boston ballet, dies at 29
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES — Sierra Leonean ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who starred in TV show “Dancing with the Stars” and Beyonce’s “Lemonade” music video album, died on Friday at the age of 29, her family said. “It is with profound sadness we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful sister, Michaela Mabinty DePrince. She was an unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story,” her family said in its statement. She was adopted in 1999 at the age of four by New Jersey couple Elaine and Charles DePrince, who enrolled her in ballet classes. Aged 14, DePrince was awarded a scholarship to attend the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School to study ballet.

Persons: Michaela Mabinty DePrince, Michaela, ”, DePrince, Misty Copeland, ” Copeland, Mabinty, Elaine, Charles DePrince, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Organizations: ANGELES, Sierra Leonean, Facebook, New, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Boston Ballet Locations: Sierra, American, ’, Kenema, Sierra Leone, malnourishment, New Jersey

☆ Michaela Mabinty DePrince: Ballerina, 29, who starred in Beyoncé video dies
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Michaela Mabinty DePrince, the ballerina born during a civil war in Sierra Leone who performed in Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ visual album, has died aged 29, according to an announcement posted to her official Instagram page. DePrince told the WSJ she thought it was a joke when she heard the singer wanted her for the video, who told DePrince in person it was an ‘honor’ to have her star. Ballerina Michaela DePrince teaches a ballet class at One World Observatory in New York City on April 26, 2017. “From the very beginning of our story back in Africa, sleeping on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I used to make up our own musical theater plays and act them out. Michaela DePrince in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 9, 2012.

Persons: CNN — Michaela Mabinty DePrince, Mia, DePrince, ’, –, – DePrince, ”, “, Ballerina Michaela DePrince, Jason Kempin, Michaela, Mabinty, “ I’m, Michaela DePrince, Denis Farrell, Misty Copeland, “ Michaela, Ballerina ’, Child Holland, CNN’s Nkepile Mabuse Organizations: CNN, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dutch National Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet, America Grand Prix Locations: Sierra Leone, Sierra, New York City, New Jersey, United States, Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, ’

☆ ‘Black Barbie: A Documentary’ takes a deeper look at a trailblazing doll
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Kaila Nichols | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And so she did: “Black Barbie: A Documentary,” her newly-released project, takes a deeper look at the story behind Black Barbie and its impact on representation in the toy business, and culture more broadly. The first Black Barbie (pictured center) wore a bold red dress, gold jewelry and an afro. The actual Black Barbie doll didn’t become a reality until decades later, after the company hired Kitty Black Perkins in 1976 as its first Black designer. “Having Black Barbie (dolls) just reinforces the fact that being Black is fly and amazing — and that Black women are gorgeous. Black Barbie is also validation for us filmmakers, everybody who worked on it, being seen and heard in this industry,” she added.

Persons: Lagueria Davis, Beulah Mitchell, Davis —, —, Barbie, ” Davis, Black Barbie, Black, Shonda Rhimes, Misty Copeland, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Maxine Waters, Copeland, Muhammad, Mitchell, Ruth Handler, Patricia A, Turner, Handler, “, ” Mitchell, “ Christie ”, Julia ”, Christie, Julia, Diahann Carroll, Kitty Black Perkins, Black Barbie’s, Black Perkins, ” Black Perkins, Aaliyah Williams, ”, ’, White, Yolanda Hester, Shani, Stacey McBride, Irby, McBride, Kitty, Stacy, Williams Organizations: CNN, Mattel, SXSW, Black, Netflix, “ Locations: Mitchell’s

☆ Straight to the Pointe
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Julia Boorstin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStraight to the PointeMisty Copeland began ballet lessons at 13. A prodigy, she was dancing en pointe just three months later, all while her family faced housing insecurity. In 2015, the trailblazing ballerina became the first African American woman to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Copeland discusses her illustrious career, overcoming adversity and her mission to make the dance community more inclusive.

Persons: Misty Copeland, Copeland Organizations: American Ballet Theatre Locations: American

☆ Misty Copeland reflects on the ‘generational trauma’ felt by Black ballet dancers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Matt Marshall | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And that wasn’t always the case.”There were also instances of discrimination that could have easily turned Copeland away from dance all together. “There were times that I was not cast in certain roles because I would stand out too much and kind of ruin the aesthetic, especially if it was a performance that was being filmed,” Copeland told Wallace. “I think about this kind of generational trauma for Black dancers that comes with that role,” she said. And I feel that that’s what I’ve done with a lot of the roles I’ve taken on, but especially Swan Lake,” Copeland told Wallace. Misty Copeland and James Whiteside perform in "Swan Lake" at Lincoln Center in New York, June 24, 2015.

Persons: Misty Copeland, Copeland, “, ” Copeland, CNN’s Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace, ”, who’s, “ I’ve, it’s, wasn’t, Wallace, “ Odette, Odile ”, Theatre’s, “ We’ve, that’s, Odette, Swan, James Whiteside, Julieta Cervantes, ABT, Jackie Robinson, haven’t, Daniil Simkin, Kevin Sullivan, Max Organizations: CNN, American Ballet Theatre, New York Times, Lincoln Center, Register, Getty, Motion Productions, ”, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Misty Copeland Foundation Locations: American, Swan, ”, Swan Lake, “, New York, Orange

☆ See what celebrities wore to New York Fashion Week
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —New York Fashion Week is back, with celebrities seen sitting front row at shows across Manhattan and Brooklyn and arriving at private parties for luxury houses including Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Christian SirianoJodie Turner-Smith arrives at a private Gucci party. Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images/Getty ImagesJessica Chastain at a private Gucci party on Saturday. Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage/Getty ImagesElliot Page arrives at a private Gucci party. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NYFW: The ShowsIris Apatow at a private Gucci party on Saturday.

Persons: Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Tommy Hilfiger’s, Sofia Richie Grainge, Becky G, Willy Chavarria’s, Sam Smith, Julia Fox, Jessica Chastain, Jodie, Turner Smith, Demi Moore, Elliot Page, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Joe Biden’s, Ashley Biden, Kamala Harris ’, Ella Emhoff, Sophia Bush, J . Smith, Cameron, Philipps, Melanie Lynskey, Alicia Silverstone, Ashlee Simpson, Christian Siriano's, Jamie McCarthy, Christian, Jodie Turner, Smith, Gilbert Carrasquillo, Dascha Polanco, Willy Chavarria's, Roy Rochlin, Debbie Harry, Jason Mendez, Willy Chavarria, Amanda Lepore, Tommy Dorfman, Natasha Lyonne, Annabelle Dexter, Jones, Chanel, Dimitrios Kambouris, Camila Mendes, Ariana Greenblatt, Gilbert Flores, Storm Reid, Jackie Aina, Udo Salters, Cowan, Sarah Desjardins, Christian Cowan, Joel Kim Booster, Anna Wintour, Diane Kruger, Carolina Herrera, Charly Triballeau, Olivia Jade, Noah Beck, Louisa Jacobson, Misty Copeland, Jaimie Alexander, Jason Wu, Molly Ringwald, Helmut Lang, Jed Cullen, Dave Benett, Jeremy O, Harris, Stephanie Hsu, Phillip Lim, Arturo Holmes, Bella Thorne, Theo Wargo, Iris Apatow, Katie Holmes, Ulla Johnson, Manny Carabel, Jemima Kirke, Trullie Organizations: CNN, New York, Central, Brooklyn, Christian, Gucci, Bach, Getty, Harmonie Club, Carolina, Beauty Brooklyn Locations: Manhattan, Brooklyn, AFP, Zsela

☆ Michael Jackson documentary: ‘Thriller 40’ focuses on the art, not the artist
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

By sidestepping the philosophical questions about separating the art from the artist, “Thriller 40” can focus steadfastly on the music, and all the other ways Jackson influenced the industry, and less on the man himself. The documentary incorporates a bit of context about The Jackson 5, primarily to make the point that Jackson’s success as a solo artist was by no means a preordained conclusion. His success with 1979’s album “Off the Wall” offered a mere teaser of what was to come – the explosion of hits on his subsequent record “Thriller”in 1982, including the title track, “Bille Jean” and “Beat It.”Michael Jackson's music is explored in the documentary "Thriller 40." “Thriller 40” consciously and effectively brings the focus back to the music and the thrills he delivered as a performer. “Thriller 40” premieres December 2 on Paramount+ and at 8 p.m.

Persons: CNN — Michael Jackson, Nelson George, Jackson, Usher, Mary J, Blige, George, Michael Jackson ”, –, Misty Copeland, “ Bille Jean ”, Michael Jackson's, Robert Hilburn, Fred Astaire, “, John Landis, Jafaar Jackson Organizations: CNN, ”, MTV, Paramount, SHOWTIME, Motown, Los Angeles Times, Jackson, Showtime Locations: London

☆ Tiffany Haddish, Misty Copeland and Martha Stewart Party in New York City
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Melissa Guerrero | More About Melissa Guerrero | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Monday night, about 500 people gathered in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of Manhattan for the fourth-annual gala for the Shed, the $475 million arts center that opened in 2019. It has since hosted a concert series by the director Steve McQueen and Quincy Jones and is currently staging Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, “Here We Are.”For the gala, the Shed’s colossal main hall was transformed into a carpeted room with tables spread among low, blobby couches. “I feel like I’m in NASA,” one guest said, adding that the venue felt big enough to accommodate a rocket launch. The evening honored M&T Bank, which has partnered with the center since it began, and the Santo Domingo family, who are longtime supporters. The crowd included the ballerina Misty Copeland, who is also a board member; the designer Wes Gordon; and the hip-hop duo the Dragon Sisters, who are part of the Shed’s Open Call program, which commissions projects from emerging artists in New York.

Persons: Steve McQueen, Quincy Jones, Stephen Sondheim’s, ”, Santo Domingo, Misty Copeland, Wes Gordon Organizations: Hudson Yards, NASA, T Bank, Santo Locations: Hudson, Manhattan, New York

Copeland spoke with The Associated Press about her new focus, fighting for more inclusive emojis, and staying in shape. She wants to push the boundaries and it didn’t matter what question I asked her, she was going to push me (laughs) in every way. That to me is like the grand scheme theme is that art saves lives, and dance and ballet can be inclusive. AP: Why did you start a petition to create new emojis related to dance that are more inclusive? All of these things that I think are such an incredible evolution of where I’ve come from as an artist and as a Black artist.

Persons: Misty Copeland, Copeland, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Twlya Tharp, Tharp, COPELAND, Twyla, I’ve, we’ve, she’s, Misty, Quinn, it’s, Tik, I’m, ABT, Derek Jeter, Wayne Gretzky Organizations: American Ballet Theatre, PBS, Associated Press, Twitter, Misty Copeland Foundation, Lincoln Center Locations: It’s

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