For most of us 13 is early to find your calling, but for Misty Copeland she was almost too late. Misty began her ballet studies at age 13 (late for a ballerina) but quickly made up for lost time, rising to the top of her field. By age 15 she had already won first place at the Music Center Spotlight Awards and her rocket rise to stardom continued from there.
After studies at the San Francisco Ballet School and the American Ballet Theater's (ABT) Summer Intensive, Ms Copeland joined the ABT Studio in 2000. Continuing to rise within the ranks of the ABT, in 2007 Ms. Copeland became the first African-American female soloist for the American Ballet Theater. As a ballerina it appears her talent has no limit and she is certainly dedicated to her craft.
For those who have never been to the ballet and think you may never get a chance to see Misty perform, don't give up. Ms. Copeland has showcased her talents on other stages to include her recent appearance with Prince during his "Welcome 2 America" tour. Her versatility, combined with her beauty and passion for dance should serve Ms. Copeland well as her career continues to blossom.
"Some black women give up and don't do classical ballet dance. I want them to know that times are changing. The more people we have auditioning, they can't deny talent." - Misty Copeland, March 2011 in Black Voices
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