What could be as breathtaking as seeing ballet dancer Misty Copeland on stage in all her glory? Seeing Misty Copeland in all her glory — between the glossy pages of a gorgeous coffee-table book.
Misty Copeland by Gregg Delman is the photographer's ode to the dancer, who is captured in dozens of magnificent poses so inspiring, we're seriously considering taking some ballet classes.
Delman first came across Copeland in a magazine back in 2011 and was so impressed by her that he reached out to her agent on a whim. Fast-forward five years, and the duo have produced a gorgeous collection of portraits, beginning with a foreword from Copeland herself, who reveals that for most of the shoots, she did her own hair and makeup and wore her own clothes. "Although ballet is movement, it's also an incredibly visual art form," she writes. "We tell many stories with our bodies."
Luckily for us, we've got a preview of that story with some of the most beautiful images from the book, on stands now. Check them out in our slideshow.
Inner Strength
"Nothing is more troubling to a dancer than an image that does not reflect the true intent of the movement," Copeland writes in the book's intro.
Photo: Courtesy of Gregg Delman/Rizzoli.
Capturing The Imagination
The tome's photographer, Gregg Delman, specializes in portraits and has shot everyone from Maura Tierney to Wiz Khalifa.
Photo: Courtesy of Gregg Delman/Rizzoli.
Ballet Beginner
Delman admits in his introduction to the book that, his work with Copeland aside, he is "a bit of a neophyte" when it comes to dance. "The only ballet I ever attended was The Nutcracker on a field trip back in elementary school," he says.
Photo: Courtesy of Gregg Delman/Rizzoli.
In Flight
Despite a rocky childhood and criticism that she's "too muscular" for ballet, Copeland overcame every obstacle put in her way to become the first-ever African-American American Ballet Theatre principal dancer in 2015.
Photo: Courtesy of Gregg Delman/Rizzoli.
Woman In The Mirror
The images in Misty Copeland by Gregg Delman were taken over three years, from 2011 to 2014. Copeland says in the foreword that considering she did her own hair, makeup, and clothing, she was surprised at how beautiful the photos turned out. "I was blown away by how fun and finessed the end product always was."
Photo: Courtesy of Gregg Delman/Rizzoli.
Coming To Light
Copeland will perform at the American Ballet Theatre's 2016 Fall Gala in New York in October and at The Nutcracker in Costa Mesa, California, in December. Check out her site for more performance dates.
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