Misty Copeland (left) and Brooklyn Mack play Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried in this year's Washington Ballet production of Swan Lake. It is the first time ever that two black dancers star in Swan L

This year, Brooklyn Mack stars as Prince Siegfried in The Washington Ballet's production of Swan Lake.

This is the first year that two African-American dancers will star in The Washington Ballet's production of Swan Lake.

Centuries old aesthetics dictate that the swan in Swan Lake has to be feather-weight and snow white, as does the Prince.