Misty Copeland’s Career in Ballet and Beyond

Misty Copeland is a Black American ballet dancer for New York City’s American Ballet Theater. She grew up in San Pedro, California, where she joined her school’s drill team in middle school. Misty’s team coach recommended that she take ballet classes with Cindy Bradley, a former company dancer with the American Ballet Company. At thirteen years old, Misty took ballet lessons for the first time. (Most other ballerinas begin training in the art form when they are as young as two.) Bradley offered Misty a full scholarship to train at the San Pedro Dance Center a few weeks later.

Within just a few years, Misty had won the distinguished performing arts Spotlight Award from the Music Center in Los Angeles and danced in Debbie Allen’s Chocolate Nutcracker at UCLA’s Royce Hall. In 1999, she joined the American Ballet Theatre’s prestigious Summer Intensive program, then joined the company’s corps de ballet in 2001. Misty became the company’s first Black American principal dancer in 2015, making her mark on the company’s history.

Over her tenure as a world-renowned dancer, Misty Copeland has performed lead roles in classical ballets worldwide and danced in a Disney feature film. She also launched a signature apparel line with Under Armour, appeared as the face of an Estée Lauder fragrance campaign, and appeared in the famously glamorous Pirelli Calendar.

After auditioning for several dance companies, Misty joined ABT’s Summer Intensive program in 1999. A year later, she officially joined the ABT Studio Company and received the distinction of National Coca-Cola Scholar. In April 2001, she joined the corps de ballet, which is the performing body of the ballet comprising the majority of the dancers.

By 2007, Misty earned her spot as a soloist with ABT. The following year, she won the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts, an accolade awarded only to those who demonstrate the highest potential in ballet.

Misty made headlines in 2015 after her promotion to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, making her the first and only Black woman to hold this title in arguably the country’s most prestigious ballet company.

Misty Copeland has starred in many productions over her prolific career. Here are some of Misty’s best-known performances:

1. 1. Firebird (2012): Misty Copeland’s arguable big break occurred when she landed the lead in ABT’s 2012 production of Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird (choreographed by Alexeï Ratmansky). It was the most prominent role of her career, and she performed it while dealing with multiple stress fractures in her tibia.
2. 2. The Nutcracker (2014): Misty performed the lead role of Clara in ABT’s 2014 production of The Nutcracker, also choreographed by Alexeï Ratmansky. The classic story centers around Clara, the eldest daughter of parents Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum, who finds herself embroiled in a conflict between her toy nutcracker, which has come to life, and an evil mouse king.
3. 3. Coppélia (2014): Misty performed the lead role of Swanilda in Coppélia at the Metropolitan Opera House. She was the first Black woman in ABT’s history to perform this role of the comic ballet. The story follows a woman who dresses up like a doll named Coppélia, with whom her love interest is infatuated. In a surprising and fantastical turn of events, she ends up saving him from Coppélia’s inventor, who wishes to take his life as a sacrifice for his dolls.
4. 4. Swan Lake (2015): In June 2015, Misty made her New York debut as Odette/Odile in the American Ballet Theatre’s production of Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House. This debut was a historic moment at ABT, as the company had never before included a Black American principal ballerina in its ranks.
5. 5. Romeo and Juliet (2016): In this 2016 production of the Shakespearean tale, Misty danced as the titular Juliet alongside Italian dancer Roberto Bolle’s Romeo. This powerful and emotional performance won over many viewers and critics who were previously unfamiliar with her stage prowess.
6. 6. Don Quixote (2017): The ballet Don Quixote centers on the character of Kitri, a spirited young woman promised to one man but in love with another. In her hour of need, she appeals to Don Quixote for help. Misty refers to the ballet Don Quixote as an example of storytelling through body language—specifically, the position of the heroine Kitri’s elbows and how she places her hands on her hips.
7. 7. Giselle (2018): Misty danced the lead role in this tragedy about a beautiful young peasant girl who falls for a rakish nobleman. Her powerful acting skills and precise body language lent a sharp yet emotional quality to the performance.

Misty Copeland is an accomplished dancer who has also published many inspiring books.

1. 1. Firebird (2014): Misty’s debut book (and winner of the Coretta Scott King Award) is a children’s picture book that follows a young girl who doubts her abilities as a dancer. Misty herself encourages the young girl to find her inner confidence and become “a firebird,” giving inspiration to young, aspiring ballerinas everywhere.
   
2. 2. Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina (2016): Misty openly discusses her difficult childhood in this New York Times bestselling memoir. She discusses several hardships endured throughout her dancing career, including a toxic family situation that nearly led to emancipation from her parents and how she pushed through to become an international dancing sensation.
3. 3. Ballerina Body: Dancing and Eating (2017): Misty addresses the changing landscape of ballerinas and body image in this book. She details exercises that she uses to keep her own body strong and offers healthy eating plans and encouraging words to young dancers.
4. 4. Bunheads (2020): Bunheads follows the character Misty and how she discovers her love of dance. This children’s book includes characters from various backgrounds (many of whom are based on Misty’s actual childhood friends) and features illustrations by artist Setor Fiadzigbey.
5. 5. Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy (2021): Misty’s newest book is an ode to the trailblazing Black ballerinas who came before her, who fought racism and discrimination with their enormous talents. The book takes the form of an illustrated collection of vignettes, with a poignant foreword written by Misty.

Practice ballet with Misty Copeland, the principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to put individual barre techniques together to create powerful performances and introduce artistry to your choreography.