Date: September 10, 1982 - Present
Who is Misty Copeland?
Misty Copeland is the first-ever African American ballerina to be selected as the principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. She joined the company back in 2000.
Facts about Misty Copeland
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She is the 3rd African-American soloist of the American Ballet Theatre.
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She wrote a children’s book that fictionalizes her experiences and the hardships that she encountered on the road towards success.
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She co-wrote the New York Times Best-selling Memoir entitled “Life in Motion”.
Inspiration Quotes from Misty Copeland
“Decide what you want. Declare it to the world. See yourself winning. And remember that if you are persistent as well as patient, you can get whatever you seek.”
“Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.”
“Start unknown, finish unforgettable.”
Biography
Childhood and Education
Misty was born in Missouri on September 10, 1982. She has 5 siblings. Her mother had several failed marriages and because of that, they had to move places until they settled in San Pedro, California.
Misty has been anxious as a child. Her relationship with her fourth stepfather wasn’t that good either with him physically and emotionally abusing Misty, her siblings, and her mother from time to time. Hence, the only way she found solace was through performing. She would often dance to the songs of Mariah Carey.
She was recommended by the coach of the drill team that she was on to attend the Boys and Girls Club. It was Cindy Bradly who saw great potential in Misty as a ballerina after seeing how Misty was able to dance on point after training for just a short period.
Her career life has started to get on the right track but her personal life wasn’t that good. Her mother decided to leave her husband. As a result, the family stayed at a motel then eventually allowed her to stay with her teacher’s family. There, she continued her training and was able to perform at charity events.
Copeland’s struggles towards success
Although she started ballerina late at the age of 13, she was able to get her price after just 2 years. In 1998, she won the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards. That year, she acquired a full scholarship at San Francisco Ballet’s summer program.
After attending the program, her mother demanded she returns home. This resulted in the legal battle between Delacerna and Bradley, something that gained the interest of the local media. Although the request has been dropped, Copeland was escorted back to her home.
Determined to pursue her dream, she enrolled in Lauridsen Ballet Centre in 1999. She officially joined the American Ballet Theatre in September 2000. She became a member of corps de ballet in 2001.
The road towards the price was surely not easy. During performances, she was asked to wear makeup just so she would look white. That way, it would be easier for her to blend in with the others. Nevertheless, instead of feeling helpless, she used this as a motivation to strive further.
She also suffered severe injuries. While she was just starting her career at ABT, she suffered a vertebral fracture, leaving her with no choice but to take some time off of doing ballet. She was also required to wear a brace.
In August 2007, she became the 2nd female African-American soloist of the company. It was in June 2015 that she became a principal dancer. Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts awards was given to her in 2008. This award is given to young individuals who showcase extraordinary talent in the arts.
Misty Copeland’s Notable Performances
Misty has performed a variety of roles, both contemporary and classical ones. One of her notable performances was in Firebird in 2012, with the choreography created by Alexei Ratmansky. She also played “Clara”, the lead role in The Nutcracker that was also choreographed by Ratmansky.
During ABT’s inaugural tour in Australia, the role “Odette” of Swan Lake was also given to her, where she made history because she was the first black woman to play the role. In 2015, she made her debut as Juliet in the production “Romeo and Juliet. That same year, she was included in the list of 100 Most influential People in Time Magazine. Since then, she has been featured in various publications. Due to her outstanding performances, the Council of Urban Professionals awarded her the “Breakthrough Award”.
Throughout her career, she also sealed various endorsement deals. Despite the success she has attained, she remained humble. She has worked with different charitable organizations. She would also take time to mentor young individuals. Due to her contributions to classical ballet, she was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Hartford.
