Joy Annabelle Womack- First America Principal Ballerina to Dance on New Bolshoi Stage
Joy Annabelle Womack is the First American Principal Ballerina to perform on on New Bolshoi Theatre Stage. Joy has landed the principal role in the ballet, La Fille Mal Gardee. Her first performance was on November 6, 2011. It went splendidly and the show was sold out. Joy will graduate later this year from the Bolshoi School after spending three years training, becoming fluent in Russian, and learning the amazing culture and tradition. Her partner, Mario Vitale Labrador, is also and American Principal Dancer. She has trained at Austin Classical School of Ballet, Santa Monica Dance Studio, Marat Daukayev School of Ballet, Yuri Gregoriev School of Ballet, and the Westside Academy of Ballet. Her family currently resides in Austin, TX. She is one of nine kids. Her parents, Eleanor and Clay, are very proud.
Misty Copeland: FIrst African American Principal Ballerina
Misty Copeland started her dancing life off in the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She was born in Kansas City, MO and didn't start ballet training until she was 13 years old. There were custody issues between her ballet instructors and mother, because they were sharing her. By then she was already winning professional titles and getting known around the U.S. She signed as a soloist with ABT and currently resides in New York City.