Our vision: In a just world, everyone can experience the beauty and power of dance.
—The Misty Copeland Foundation
A Message From Misty
Misty Copeland and BE BOLD students and teaching artists at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Clubhouse Palmaro.
Spring has started and is coming in strong! Our afterschool program, BE BOLD, is now offered at14 community-based organizations, with 16BE BOLD classes held Monday through Friday each week, plus one class offered on Saturdays. A warm welcome to our new partner sites:
Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center (run by the NYC Parks Dept) in the Bronx
Mott Haven Academy Charter School in the Bronx
DREAM Charter School East in Harlem
We anticipate teaching around 275 children ballet fundamentals, music appreciation, and mindset and skill development this spring–from January to June. We are proud to have 43 teaching artists on our BE BOLD team: 27 dance educators and 16 musicians guide and support our students. We are especially pleased to offer a fun variety of music in our classrooms, as our roster includes talented pianists, saxophone players, bassists, guitarists, and drummers.
In early February, we began a collaborative partnership with the Manhattan School of Music and hosted a two-day BE BOLD teaching artist training at the school. Please be sure to read the training overview later in this newsletter. Our rigorous training demonstrates our commitment to children’s growth as we work to provide excellent teaching in our classrooms.
Another highlight of early 2024 was sharing the Foundation’s work with Kevin Bacon on his podcast Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon. Kevin is also passionate about supporting youth and their communities and we had a great discussion. I hope you’ll take a listen here.
There is so much to look forward to this spring! Our Program Manager, Sindy Folgar, and our program evaluator and developmental psychologist, Dr. Gess LeBlanc, are bringing BE BOLD partner site leaders together for the first time. They will collaborate by discussing and exchanging resources and ideas on best program practices and student impact. This is sure to result in better student outcomes and further strengthen the BE BOLD community.
In addition, we will engage about 50 teaching artists in a rigorous one-day workshop and a guided debrief of the Spring semester in June. Sessions will include a BE BOLD Summer framework review with me and the BE BOLD Program Team.
And, don’t worry, we aren’t taking the summer off! We look forward to piloting BE BOLD with new potential site partners and to returning to several sites where it was taught last summer.
When I started the Foundation, I had no idea we’d come so far in so short a time. Our success, of course, is due to the many collaborators and supporters who have joined us to help break down the barriers to quality dance and music education in the communities we serve. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Best wishes,
Misty
BE BOLD Teaching Artist Training
Misty Copeland with Manhattan School of Music President Jim Gandre, musical advisor Brad Wentworth, and BE BOLD musicians.
Rigorous and supportive teaching artist training is a key component of BEBOLD success. On February 3 and 4, 2024, our teaching artists—comprised of both dance educators and musicians—participated in 2024’s inaugural training session at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM). The Misty Copeland Foundation is delighted to have established a working partnership with MSM, renowned for its commitment to fostering excellence in the arts through its tradition of nurturing talented musicians and educators.
Advisory Council members Monica Stephenson, Director of Preparatory Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, professional musician Brad Wentworth, and Royce Zackery, Associate Professor and coordinator of the Dance Arts Program at Howard University, led and guided the movement and music training sessions. They gave thoughtful guidance and constructive feedback to help our teaching artists hone their craft. Misty Copeland discussed her vision for BE BOLD and encouraged the teaching artists to see themselves as the program’s ambassadors. Dr. Gess LeBlanc presented findings from the first phase of his BE BOLD program evaluation and Dr. Durell Cooper discussed BE BOLD’s culturally sensitive approach to arts education. This rigorous, semi-annual training ensures our teaching artists can best support a diverse community of young ballet students and nurture them as they grow and develop.
Springing Up BE BOLD Style!
BE BOLD is honored to be offering 17 classes per week at 14 sites, serving more than 250 children. While a few sites are new, most are returning–a testament to the value our site partners see that BE BOLD brings to their community as well as the strong working relationships MCF establishes with its partners. The following are our Spring 2024 site partners:
BronxWorks : Betances Community Center, Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center, Mott Haven Academy Charter School, South Bronx Preparatory Academy
As our Site Leader from the Gaylord-White Community Center cited:
The BE BOLD curriculum is a powerful thing many of the children have never been exposed to… [the Teaching Artists] are excellent instructors, role models, and leaders that the youth gravitate to.
We are thrilled to be working with NYC’s leading afterschool organizations to bring BE BOLD to the children who can benefit most from the program.
Misty Honored, BE BOLD Kids Join Celebration!
Misty Copeland with BE BOLD students, teaching artists, and representatives from the Bronxworks: Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center.
MCF is looking forward to the Dance Theater of Harlem (DTH)’s annual Vision Gala in April. Misty Copeland, along with Terri Prettyman Bowles and Alvin Bowles, will be honored at the event which also celebrates DTH founder Arthur Mitchell’s 90th birthday. DTH kindly donated tickets for the gala performance at the New York City Center so BE BOLD children and their caregivers can attend this special event. The program will include a piece created by DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland featuring BE BOLD Program Director Sindy Folgar and BE BOLD Teaching Artists. The performance is sure to inspire our BE BOLD students and caregivers. They will see for themselves that ballet really is for everyone.
Your support truly makes a difference!
The Misty Copeland Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that raises funds to support its programs. You can help children grow and learn through BE BOLD our innovative afterschool ballet program:
$25 will help furnish BE BOLD classroom materials for one class.
$60 will help provide a BE BOLD class with tee shirts.
$80 will help ensure a BE BOLD class has ballet shoes.
$100 will help fund live music accompaniment for a BE BOLD class.
$150 will help supply BE BOLD books for a class.
$250 will help support opportunities for BE BOLD students to attend live performances.
$600 will help cover teaching artist stipends for BE BOLD training workshops.
$1,000 will help underwrite the cost of a child’s participation in BE BOLD.
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