Some people hear dance and think about some "Step Up" movie. This is a notion held by most, but there are other critical dance genres that have had profound effects on the world due to one tremendous dancer: Misty Copeland.
Misty Copeland was the second African American to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater (ABT) in the history of ABT. A rarity in the ballet world to see a black woman, but moreover, a black principal dancer. Starting her professional career with them in 2000, she has gradually paved her way to success. But that’s not the only thing she should be known for. Although this is an incredible feat, she is also a rising advocate for young black girls’ quest for the art of dance and the uphill battle that comes with being a black woman.
It begins with her unapologetic spirit in the presence of others. She has been recently nominated Most Fascinating Person of 2015 by Barbara Walters and Most Influential Person 2015 as well. And there’s a reason for that. Being cast in the limelight, against the odds of ballerinas, Copeland speaks volumes of truth. She does what every inspirational artist wants to do, and that is to use her platform (i.e. dance) to educate. For one, she has always stated that black women are able to succeed. And her major achievement was changing the perception of how classical ballerinas were perceived. Those are her words. She’s quite humble and extremely intelligent.
Back to her incredible achievements in the world of dance, Copeland also introduces important principles that have translated to the rest of the world. Something that will resonate with the world is the idea of working for what you want against all odds. It’s a concept many learn much later in life simply because they were handed things, and then there are others like Copeland who had everything taken away from them – an intense injury during the onset of her career, an unsupportive mother, being a black woman in America and being a black woman in a white-dominated field. There were definitely people that doubted Miss Copeland on her incredible journey, but the one thing she has always said and continues to say is that she will not give up. She will never give up. Copeland was faced with many stereotypes in the ballet world: her bust was too big, her muscles were too much, she needed to be more petite. But all of these statements are the very thing that drove her, even in her most doubtful times. She makes it very well-known that everyone has the power to be everything they’ve ever wanted to be, you just have to work for it.
And that is especially important for young kids to know, in all communities. They need a source of inspiration that’s done what they dream about, and they need someone to speak truths into their minds and educate them about blossoming into the world. Misty Copeland has done both. Not only does she work on projects teaching young kids the art of dance, but she is also a prevalent speaker among different communities. She makes it known that she is human and gets scared sometimes as well, but never lets it define her most important decisions in life.
Ballet is a spiritual experience, and everyone should take at least one dance class in their life. According to Misty, it’s an out-of-body experience.
If you’re more interested in her story, make sure to pick up a copy of “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina,” a memoir of Copeland’s life. You then will see the principle of willing what you want too.
“Success isn’t handed to us, it’s something we earn.” - Misty Copeland
