Premiere by New England Academy of Dance and Screening of "Flower" by Misty Copeland

New Canaan Library, Stand Together Against Racism (S.T.A.R.) and the New England Academy of Dance (NEAD), present a screening of Misty Copeland’s short episodic film, Flower. Following the film will be a spectacular dance premiere by NEAD, created and choreographed by Ted Thomas to reflect the themes in Flower. Special guest, Christina Johnson, who worked closely with Misty on the making of this movie and plays the role of Rose’s mother, will be featured during the Q&A. 

In her first performance since the pandemic and becoming a new mom, Misty Copeland stars in and produced the  short episodic film, Flower. Flower shows Copeland performing alongside a brilliant cast. Through dance, they tell the story of Rose, who puts her dreams on hold to care for her ailing mother who is living with dementia. As Rose struggles to keep a roof over their heads, she watches the neighborhood around her fade away, much like her mother's memory, until Rose’s hope for the future is renewed through the power of culture, community, and unity.  

Christina Johnson’s career began with Boston Ballet. She then joined Dance Theatre of Harlem where she became a principal dancer. She was a founding member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and was a featured guest artist with various companies worldwide. After her performance career Christina has been sought after as a teacher and coach for dance schools, professional dance companies, and universities.

The 28-minute short, features new music composed by Grammy Award-winning recording artist Raphael Saadiq, including the original song “Here Now.”