Misty Copeland, 34 years young [in Sept 2016], is an American ballet dancer…..
…and is [though disputed] the first African American female soloist for the American Ballet Theater.
Disputed because, lest they be forgotten, and reporting as a true historian, we have to make note of Anne Benna Sims and Nora Kimball (Nora is Black/Asian)……
…..both African American ballerinas who were with the ABT in the early and mid-1980s….
….as well as Raven Wilkinson of the Ballet Rousse in the 1950’s, whom Misty specifically says was one of her main role models and mentors.
Nonetheless, as of 2008, Copeland has been the only African-American woman in the dance company for her entire American Ballet Theater career.
Once told she doesn’t have the proper “body type” to be a ballerina [whatever that means], but look at her now!!! I think we can all use her experience as a metaphor for anything in life we strive for.
For many of you, I hope you enjoy your first experience at “The Ballet”…………
The following quotes are all Ms. Copeland’s………..
“If I have the time, I take Pilates mat classes, Gyrotonic privates using the reformers, and occasionally will run on the elliptical machine. I also like to do floor barre classes with my private teacher.”
“I had never, ever thought… ‘I’m black, and no one looks like me’ “
“I think its great to have something that seems so pure to me…I think its important to have something like that in this crazy world”
“It’s one of few arts that has maintained its history….and stayed true to what it is”
“At this moment, I don’t think ballet can be more relevant in the world than in pop culture”
“You can find a pretty body anywhere…….what makes a dancer a true dancer is what they make of all of that on stage, and what they bring to the audience”
“I build muscle mass very quickly, so I stay away from weights and resistance machines. Diet is a huge part of staying lean and long.”
“No sugary drinks. I pretty much stick to water and wine on occasion. I eat fish but no other meat.”
“No white flour, white bread, white sugar, etc. But ballet is really enough, especially in season, to keep our figures aesthetically appropriate”
“I would say that diet is 80% of what it takes to stay in dancer shape and to have the energy needed. I eat little before a show. Maybe fruit, bananas, grapes, yogurt or a salad I eat after a show”
“In the mornings I have coffee and a muffin and yogurt. After class I have a snack, sushi or salad. I eat nuts and dried fruit throughout the day.”
I think diet plays an even bigger role in how you feel and look than working yourself into the ground exercising”
“You can do anything you want, even if you are being told negative things….stay strong and find motivation”
“I’m 5’2”, I started when I was 13, I’m black, but I’ve made it happen, I’m very lucky to be where I am….its possible“
–Misty Copeland
[below] Thanks to the power of Video Editing, I cut a version of the song “The Lady in my Life”, which features a performance by Misty Copeland ENJOY!!!
More info on Misty Copeland on her Official Website
Misty now has a self designed clothing line of UnderArmour Female Fitness Apparel
My “Body Series” slideshow featuring Misty Copeland….MORE GREAT MISTY PICS!!!!
Feb/2017, My latest Misty Article!!!
Five ways Misty Eats, Lives, and Train Healthy
~stay healthy~
you might also like…….
Under Armour “I Will What I What”
(…Professional Tennis Player Sloane Stephens)
ESPN “BODY” Issue 2016
(….behind the scenes with Olympic fencer Nzingha Prescod)
Misty Copeland
(….five ways she Eats, Trains, and Lives Healthy)
click here or photo below for
all my articles in “Girl Talk”
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5 Responses
Thank you for posting the story about Misty. My wife, daughter and I saw her perform Firebird in March 2012. She is the cousin of a friend. Many people did not know who she was 3 years ago.
Debbie Allen was told a similar statement about having the "wrong body type" as a young dancer. Thankful that has not deterred Misty.
My 12-year old daughter is entering her 9th year of ballet. She is the only African American participating in the pointe ballet class. It was an amazing experience for my daughter to see Misty.
Hey Abraham,
I’m sure you are showing your daughter all the right “principles” to follow. Misty is a trail blazer, and now the art, or sport, or whatever you call it, of ballet, is now opened up to everyone, and for sure many little girls will say “I wanna do that”. When you look at where UnderArmour is going with their fitness apparel campaign, they are coaxing women of all nationalities, creeds, body sizes, and whatever, to break free and peruse their aspirations, and it is great to see UnderArmour sign Misty as their front woman (especially since women have the right to make that good money just like male athletes and entertainers). I’m not the biggest fan of [excessively] talking about race in my blog, and though I’m black (which ain’t really saying anything more than “I’m tall”), I wanted a very culturally diverse blog, and I think I succeeded, and when I first learned who Misty was, I just thought it was pure beauty and grace and nothing else. Other than her own quotes about race that she doesn’t overkill (and I wanted to put in for young black girls to be inspired), I chose not to write the article about race. It was about 99% beauty in my minds eye. This is the only article I seem to go back through in my blog and look the pictures like I’m drinking a fine Cognac. However, I learned of her struggles as pertains to race in that art form of ballet, it was interesting, and I’m sure she will inspire many people, but I sense she has the right mindset, which is just to express yourself, and your talent will be appreciated. It’s easier for me to get a bead on perception when reading comments from white people and other races who read my article, and pin it to Pinterest or Tumblr or where ever, in that it “seems” to me that all they see is beauty and grace and nothing else, and that is perhaps all that matters…………..and that’s never a bad thing. ~stay healthy~
I like her
Misty ! A flame that burns me and destroys me !
Hi Ron,
Same here sir!!! I never get tired of going back and reading my own Misty articles….
Thanks for reading and commenting
Doug at GAIA Health Blog