Ever since Misty Copeland became the first Black ballerina of principal rank in American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history, she has had two jobs: to dance and to represent. Now that she’s hung up her toes shoes, the 43-year-old is advocating for Black dancers in ballet full time, including as curator of the Joyce Ballet Festival this year. The programming is a bit grab-bag, as if she’d asked the participants, “Whaddya got?” They have brought their best wares. New York City Ballet’s soulful Taylor Stanley performs Show Pony, by Kyle Abraham; NYCB’s arresting Victor Abreu does the honors in a rare José Limòn solo. But where the festival proves extraordinary through and through is in its roll call of Black ballet dancers from across the country (plus France). This rare show of collective force is a beautiful sight. —Apollinaire Scherr