The Misty Copeland Foundation is dedicated to serving under-resourced communities through dance. Most recently, the organization launched their Be Bold program to provide an accessible way for children to learn ballet.
Located in New York City, Be Bold began its first season in fall 2022. Director Sindy Folgar shares that they seek to teach valuable life skills through a historic artform that many have not had access to.
"It came about from Misty's desire to use her platform to diversify ballet and to offer opportunities to children to learn ballet, to learn dance history and music, and to hopefully learn about themselves," she tells Sonia Baghdady of Advocate Now.
The Misty Copeland Foundation's Sindy Folgar | Advocate Now
Be Bold's instructions are developed in partnership with child psychologists to ensure students are learning self awareness, social awareness, decision making skills, and empathy, which Folgar says is "so needed right now." Despite being a new organization, she adds that "we are able to see the changes in our students already."
As ballet is an expensive artform, children from low-income households often do not get to experience it. Moreover, Folgar says the industry is based on "aesthetics," meaning dancers are regularly turned away for not meeting certain physical criteria — usually disenfranchising dancers who are not White or thin enough.
"Ballet is an aesthetic artform, and it has been very exclusionary of certain populations throughout history," Folgar explains. "So, we are trying to change that narrative. And we understand the importance of representation."
Folgar adds that it's especially important for children to have supportive and diverse adults in their lives, and a place to go after school. Many communities of color lack after school programs, which is why Folgar says Be Bold is "trying to level the playing field" for them.
"We want them to understand that there's nothing wrong with them, it's the system that needs to change, that needs to be more equitable and really see beauty in all sizes and places," she says.
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