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 )