Misty Copeland’s Flower

After a three-year performing hiatus, Misty Copeland returns to the spotlight with Flower, a 28-minute film that she produced as well as stars and dances in. Filmed in Oakland, California, this powerful art-activism short explores issues of gentrification, homelessness, and the need for intergenerational equity. “Flower is an homage to Black Silent ‘race’ films of the 1920s, to the intrinsic human ability to express ourselves through movement, and the universal language of dance,” Copeland wrote on Instagram. The ABT principal stars alongside LINES dancer Babatunji Johnson and former Dance Theatre of Harlem and Complexions principal Christina Johnson. The film features choreography by Alonzo King and creative duo Rich+Tone, as well as an original score by Grammy award-winning artist Raphael Saadiq. Directed by Lauren Finerman, Flower is the debut motion picture by Life in Motion Productions, founded by Copeland and Leyla Fayyaz. Flower premieres at the Tribeca Festival on June 8­–17; a free screening will be held at Lincoln Center on July 1.