Introduction

(Misty Copeland) 

    The artist that I have chosen to write about is Misty Copeland. She has been someone I have always looked up to in the ballet community. I feel like when we think about ballerinas we always have a very specific image in our heads, the ballerina we think of is very petite and thin and very beautiful and probably has light skin. But Misty Copeland, the prodigy ballerina, is paving the way for the next generation of dancers to see a principal dancer as someone who is strong and fit and a person of color. Representation is something that the ballet community has always needed more of and with Misty continuously changing the game and showing others what determination and hard work can accomplish it really allows for more young girls and boys of color to follow in her footsteps. 

Biographical Information

    

(Young Misty Copeland photographed above en pointe)

Misty Copeland was born in Kansas City, Missouri and then raised in San Pedro, California. Misty started her ballet studies at 13 years old at the San Pedro City Ballet and after only three months of study she started en pointe. This is a huge accomplishment because dancers study for years to get en pointe so it’s very telling on how much of a natural she was at this skill and her love for ballet only grew from there. In 2000 Misty joined ABT, American Ballet Theater Studio Company. Here she was the only African American dancer and although she faced a lot of adversary she had so much support of the company in an article it stated that, “ABT's artistic director, Kevin McKenzie, asked writer and arts figure Susan Fales-Hill, then vice-chair of ABT's Board of Directors, to mentor Copeland. Fales-Hill introduced Copeland to black women trailblazers who encouraged Copeland and helped her to gain perspective.” (Kiddle Encyclopedia). Not long after Misty became the youngest appointed soloist for ABT in 2007 then in 2015 she became the first African American women principal dancer at ABT. This is another huge accomplishment that deserves so much praise because not only is it the highest position in a ballet company but it is super groundbreaking for people of color and amazing for the next generation of dancers to see representation in such a well respected role in a dance company.

                                                       ( Mistys' beginnings as a ballerina )

Interesting Facts About Misty Copeland

 

(Misty with her Barbie doll inspired by her Firebird performance)

   Some more interesting facts about Misty Copeland are on top of being a world renowned dancer she is a very accomplished author she has written two autobiographical books, a memoir, a children's book, and even a health and fitness guide. And within all of her writing the same message of encouragement and inspiration are held up and pushed to her audience. Misty has also had her time in the entertainment industry, she has been in music videos for Prince, she has hosted tv shows like So You Think You Can Dance, she has been in movies and on Broadway this girl has truly done it all. And my favorite fun fact is that Mattel created her very own Barbie doll back in 2016 and I vividly remember when this came out. I had wanted the doll so badly. It was so beautiful and dressed in her Firebird costume from the ballet and her beautiful brown skin was displayed for everyone to see. It made me so happy to see a person of color who looked like me to have the honor of getting a Barbie doll made of them.

(Misty Copelands performance with Prince live ) 

Career Highlights

(Misty performing her role in Firebird at ABT)

    Misty Copeland started her career at the American Ballet Theater in 2000. Throughout her time there she was in many productions and played countless roles. On the ABT website they actually have a list of the roles she has played, to name a few she played, “ erpsichore in Apollo, Gamzatti, a Shade and the Lead D’Jampe in La Bayadère, Milkmaid in The Bright Stream, the Fairy Autumn in Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella, Blossom in James Kudelka’s Cinderella, Swanilda and the Mazurka Lady in Coppélia, Gulnare and an Odalisque in Le Corsaire, Kitri, Mercedes, Driad Queen, the lead gypsy and a flower girl in Don Quixote, Duo Concertant, the Masks in Christopher Wheeldon’s VIII, Lise in Las Fille mal gardée, the Firebird in Alexei Ratmansky’s Firebird...” (ABT) and believe it or not the list goes to state so many more roles and it is so impressive that she played so many roles while also being someone so many people admire and look up to.

                                             ( A small look at Misty Copeland in Firebird) 

Conclusion

    

(Misty photographed with a group of younger dancers)

Misty Copeland is a prodigy ballerina who has been a trailblazer and role model for people of color in the dance community. She really paved the way and is still paving the way for diversity and representation in ballet companies. With her many accomplishments this new generation of ballerinas have someone they can see themselves in. In an interview Misty had they asked her the question of what advice she would give to young up and coming dancers and she stated, “I just remind them that it’s not about the videos you post or the endorsements you get through social media. It’s about the work you’re putting in. There’s no way to go on stage and be the dancer and the artist you want to be if you’re not prepared, focused, and grounded.” (Beard). I think this is so important to say to the generation of young ballerinas we have especially in the age of technology. It really isn't about social media and what goes on there, it is about the hard work that is put into being the best and being at the top and pushing through adversary and self doubt to unleash all one's potential. And like Misty Copeland as a part of the new generation we should follow in her footsteps and continue to make change and show what hard work and determination can truly accomplish. 

Works Citied

 Beard, Allison. “Life's Work: An Interview with Misty Copeland.” Harvard Business Review, 21 June 2022, https://hbr.org/2022/07/lifes-work-an-interview-with-misty-copeland.

 “Misty Copeland.” American Ballet Theatre, 1 Oct. 2019, https://www.abt.org/people/misty-copeland/.

“Misty Copeland Facts for Kids.” Misty Copeland Facts for Kids, https://kids.kiddle.co/Misty_Copeland.