Misty Copeland danced with James Whiteside in Swan Lake at Lincoln Center in New York City.
For ballet dancer Misty Copeland, 2015 has been a very big year. On June 30, she was promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She was the first African American woman to be given that honor in the ballet company’s 75-year history. That same month, she also became the first African American woman with the ABT to perform the dual role of Odette and Odile in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake ballet. Even before she achieved these historic firsts, Time magazine had already named her one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” for being such a talented and inspirational figure in the field of classical dance.
Copeland was born on September 10, 1982, in Kansas City, Missouri, but she didn’t live there for long. Her family moved around a lot before they finally settled in San Pedro, a community in Los Angeles, California. Copeland developed a love for movement and dance at an early age. She was inspired by the story of the world-famous Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci, who won gold medals in the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics. At home, Copeland enjoyed creating her own dance routines to the songs of Mariah Carey, one of her favorite singers.
In middle school, Copeland became captain of the drill team. The teacher in charge of the team recognized her talent and convinced her to take ballet classes. The ballet instructor, Cindy Bradley, soon realized that Copeland was a prodigy—a young person who is unusually talented in some way. Copeland continued her ballet training, building her reputation as an exceptionally gifted young dancer.
In 1999, at the age of 17, Copeland attended a summer intensive program at the American Ballet Theatre. She joined the company in September 2000 and was promoted to the rank of soloist in 2007. She was soon showcased in national productions of classical ballets, such as Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, and contemporary dances, such as Twyla Tharp’s Sinatra Suite. In 2014, President Barack Obama appointed Copeland to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, an organization that encourages Americans of all ages to exercise and participate in sports. Then, in October 2015, a documentary film was released about Copeland’s life titled A Ballerina’s Tale.
Copeland’s fame and reputation as a dancer continue to grow. Because she is one of the few African American performers working in the field of classical dance, she has gotten a lot of attention outside of the world of ballet. She is very serious about her responsibility as a role model for young African American women and others who look up to her.
Loading...
