Bunheads

K-Gr 3–“This is for those who love to dance.” The first African American female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT) celebrates the joy of dance with a biographical glimpse of the young Misty in her first ballet class, auditions, and preparation for a performance of Coppélia. A muted color palette in digitally painted art highlights the technique and diversity of the dancers as illustrations emphasize dark foreground silhouettes and shadows from a variety of perspectives, in contrast with the pastels of background walls and the brighter faces and expressions of individuals. The tale of Coppélia is featured in a different color palette with a series of larger images and small cells—all followed by views of the students’ ballet barre practice and performance, detailing technique with dance terms. The author follows her young self through the audition process for dance roles, her questioning thoughts about her own talent, working with other dancers, and the sheer thrill of performance.