BALLERINA LADY
Misty Copeland:
Living her dream
© 2015
Samuel K
TheBlackSilentMajority
African Americans have excelled in a number of careers, despite barriers, despite the isolation of being the only one in a given field. Colin Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Mae Jemison, Sidney Poitier, Jack Johnson, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and Oprah are just a few who come to mind.
With hard work and determination, we can excel at anything. In the area of ballet, Misty Copeland is continuing that tradition.
Misty Copeland was promoted to the highest rank of the American Ballet Theatre. In so doing, she became the first African American woman principal dancer in the ballet company’s 75-year history.
Being named a principal carries a much clout in the world of dance. The principal is not just a soloist. She enjoys the most prominent role in a ballet company. In the world of ballet, principals are the stars.
“I had moments of doubting myself, and wanting to quit, because I didn’t know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this level,” Ms. Copeland said at a news conference at the Metropolitan Opera House. “At the same time it made me so hungry to push through, to carry the next generation.
So it’s not me up here — and I’m constantly saying that — it’s everyone that came before me that got me to this position.”
Misty was born in Kansas City, Missouri but was raised in San Pedro, California.
She started ballet at age 13--considered late by many people. Misty didn’t grow up in an affluent family. Hardly. She grew up poor and her family lived in a hotel. She was not exposed to ballet or classical music until much later in life. But she really loved ballet, and she was determined to pursue a career in the field.
Misty has been outspoken about her desire to become the first black woman to be named a principal ballet dancer. “My fears are that it could be another two decades before another black woman is in the position that I hold with an elite ballet company,” she wrote in her memoir titled, “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.”
In a Time magazine interview, former Olympic gymnast great, Nadia Comaneci, wrote that Copeland is someone who followed her dreams and refused to give up. "In that way, she is a model for all young girls," Comaneci wrote. "It doesn't matter where you're from. If you have the passion like Misty, you can be the best at what you do."
The New York Times reported that Copeland’s “performances became events, drawing large, diverse, enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on.” The paper added, "Her performances became events, drawing large, diverse, enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on."
Misty has been passionate about exposing black youngsters to ballet. She regularly speaks at schools, and students have been inspired by her. She has over 500,000 followers on Instagram.
Misty Copeland joined the American Ballet Company in 2001 and became a soloist in 2007. With hard work, persistence and a love for her people, she has reached her goal, and she has become an inspiration. You go Misty
25 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT MISTY
1. I’m a klutz.
2. I’ve fallen down the Great Wall of China.
3. I don’t like to wear makeup.
4. I sit down in the shower.
5. I always wear heels, even when I travel.
6. She’s engaged to Olu Evans, a cousin of Taye Diggs.
7. I’m the queen of Sudoku.
8. I’m a pescatarian, but sometimes I miss bacon.
9. I’m decked out in my Golden State Warriors tank top and wristband at every Warriors basketball game I go to.
10. I own five practice tutus.
11. I didn’t own a computer until I was 22 years old!
12. I’ve used Proactiv for more than 10 years.
13. The book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle got me through this spring performance season at the Metropolitan Opera House.
14. I use too much hair spray on a daily basis.
15. I love horror movies.
16. I had my nose pierced for about a year.
17. My favorite flowers are orchids.
18. I love the Bravo TV show Shahs of Sunset.
19. I’ve had a dancewear line in the works for about six years now.
20. I wear men’s cologne.
21. I love to wrestle with my little sister [Lindsey].
22. I eat Cheez-Its almost every day.
23. I’ve never been skiing.
24. I used to have a membership to the Mariah Carey fan club.
25. I’ve lived only on the Upper West Side during my 15 years in New York City.
Misty Copeland:
Living her dream
© 2015
Samuel K
TheBlackSilentMajority
African Americans have excelled in a number of careers, despite barriers, despite the isolation of being the only one in a given field. Colin Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Mae Jemison, Sidney Poitier, Jack Johnson, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and Oprah are just a few who come to mind.
With hard work and determination, we can excel at anything. In the area of ballet, Misty Copeland is continuing that tradition.
Misty Copeland was promoted to the highest rank of the American Ballet Theatre. In so doing, she became the first African American woman principal dancer in the ballet company’s 75-year history.
Being named a principal carries a much clout in the world of dance. The principal is not just a soloist. She enjoys the most prominent role in a ballet company. In the world of ballet, principals are the stars.
“I had moments of doubting myself, and wanting to quit, because I didn’t know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this level,” Ms. Copeland said at a news conference at the Metropolitan Opera House. “At the same time it made me so hungry to push through, to carry the next generation.
So it’s not me up here — and I’m constantly saying that — it’s everyone that came before me that got me to this position.”
Misty was born in Kansas City, Missouri but was raised in San Pedro, California.
She started ballet at age 13--considered late by many people. Misty didn’t grow up in an affluent family. Hardly. She grew up poor and her family lived in a hotel. She was not exposed to ballet or classical music until much later in life. But she really loved ballet, and she was determined to pursue a career in the field.
Misty has been outspoken about her desire to become the first black woman to be named a principal ballet dancer. “My fears are that it could be another two decades before another black woman is in the position that I hold with an elite ballet company,” she wrote in her memoir titled, “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.”
In a Time magazine interview, former Olympic gymnast great, Nadia Comaneci, wrote that Copeland is someone who followed her dreams and refused to give up. "In that way, she is a model for all young girls," Comaneci wrote. "It doesn't matter where you're from. If you have the passion like Misty, you can be the best at what you do."
The New York Times reported that Copeland’s “performances became events, drawing large, diverse, enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on.” The paper added, "Her performances became events, drawing large, diverse, enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on."
Misty has been passionate about exposing black youngsters to ballet. She regularly speaks at schools, and students have been inspired by her. She has over 500,000 followers on Instagram.
Misty Copeland joined the American Ballet Company in 2001 and became a soloist in 2007. With hard work, persistence and a love for her people, she has reached her goal, and she has become an inspiration. You go Misty
25 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT MISTY
1. I’m a klutz.
2. I’ve fallen down the Great Wall of China.
3. I don’t like to wear makeup.
4. I sit down in the shower.
5. I always wear heels, even when I travel.
6. She’s engaged to Olu Evans, a cousin of Taye Diggs.
7. I’m the queen of Sudoku.
8. I’m a pescatarian, but sometimes I miss bacon.
9. I’m decked out in my Golden State Warriors tank top and wristband at every Warriors basketball game I go to.
10. I own five practice tutus.
11. I didn’t own a computer until I was 22 years old!
12. I’ve used Proactiv for more than 10 years.
13. The book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle got me through this spring performance season at the Metropolitan Opera House.
14. I use too much hair spray on a daily basis.
15. I love horror movies.
16. I had my nose pierced for about a year.
17. My favorite flowers are orchids.
18. I love the Bravo TV show Shahs of Sunset.
19. I’ve had a dancewear line in the works for about six years now.
20. I wear men’s cologne.
21. I love to wrestle with my little sister [Lindsey].
22. I eat Cheez-Its almost every day.
23. I’ve never been skiing.
24. I used to have a membership to the Mariah Carey fan club.
25. I’ve lived only on the Upper West Side during my 15 years in New York City.