“Just as a child, before I ever knew what ballet was, there was something in me where I was always searching for something structured, something that was bigger than me, and something so historical that I could be a part of. I didn't find that until I stepped into the ballet world, and it was overwhelming, the feeling of being a part of something that's bigger than you.” WorldChildrenFeelingsBiggerHistoricalOverwhelmingBallet Author:Misty Copeland
“I think that I'm so fortunate to have found classical ballet. It completely changed my life and it shaped the person that I am today, on and off the stage.” ThinkingPersonsTodayFoundStageChangedFortunateBalletChanged My LifeAnd Off Author:Misty Copeland
“To have a platform like So You Think You Can Dance, where you're reaching this audience that's been created over the 10 years that they've been on the air. People who didn't know anything about dance and aren't going to go to the theater are learning about it, even if it's ballroom and jazz, by just turning their television ono. They're building this audience that's advanced and educated enough to introduce them to ballet.” PeopleIfsThinkingKnowsYearsEnoughAudienceAirTelevisionBuildingTheaterJazzEducatedReachingBalletIntroducingPlatformsBallroom Author:Misty Copeland
“Going on stage and doing ballet, for the first time, was even more verification of, "This is what I'm meant to do. This is what I'm going to do. I'm going to make it somehow."” FirstsStageFirst TimeBalletVerification Author:Misty Copeland
“I learned how to communicate and articulate myself from ballet. It's just insane to me, when they don't think of that as a part of our education.” ThinkingCommunicateInsaneBallet Author:Misty Copeland
“I know that I'll forever be involved in ballet. This is where my life was meant to be, and I don't see myself straying completely away, ever.” KnowsForeverInvolvedMeant To BeBalletWere Meant To Be Author:Misty Copeland
“Hopefully, I'll be a part of ABT, in some way, forever. I think I'll always be a part of ballet and try to push diversity, for as long as I live.” ThinkingWayTryingLongForeverDiversityHopefullyBallet Author:Misty Copeland
“Ballet found me. I was discovered by a teacher in middle school. I always danced, my whole life. I never had any training, never was exposed to seeing dance, but I always had something inside of me.” WholeSchoolFoundTeacherSeeingMiddleTrainingWhole LifeExposedBalletMiddle School Author:Misty Copeland
“I'm a classical ballet dancer, and at the end of the day I want to be with American Ballet Theater, performing classical ballets.” WantEndsTheaterPerformingDancerThe End Of The DayBalletBallet DancerAnd At The End Of The Day Author:Misty Copeland
“Some people even think that I'm still just not right for it [ballet]. And I think it's shocking because they hear those words from critics saying I'm too bulky, I'm too busty. And then they meet me in person and they're like, you look like a ballerina. And I think it's just something maybe that I will never escape from, those people who are narrow-minded. But my mission, my voice, my story, my message, is not for them. And I think it's more important to think of the people that I am influencing and helping to see a broader picture of what beauty is.” PeopleThinkingLooksPersonsStillsImportantHelpingStoriesVoiceInfluenceLike YouMessagesCriticsMissionsBalletShockingBallerinaNarrow-minded Author:Misty Copeland
“I feel like I represent every young dancer, and even non-dancer, who felt they were not accepted by the ballet world. I'd like to think that they can see themselves in me.” ThinkingWorldFeelsYoungFeltAcceptedDancerBallet Author:Misty Copeland
“Ballet was exactly what I was searching for, but my environment definitely made me the dancer and the person that I am today. And the Hip-Hop culture was a big part of it.” PersonsMadeBigsTodayCultureEnvironmentHip HopHipsDancerHopsBallet Author:Misty Copeland
“It takes a lot of money to be a part of the ballet world. Both the training and the supplies are expensive, the shoes, the leotards and the tights.” WorldTrainingShoesExpensiveBalletLots Of MoneySuppliesTightsLeotards Author:Misty Copeland
“My career came together very quickly. I only trained for four years before I became a professional, so I didn't have a lot of time to sit back and be inspired before I took my first ballet class.” YearsFirstsTogetherClassCareersFourInspiredBalletFour YearsBe InspiredBallet Class Author:Misty Copeland
“I believe that I definitely developed into a refined and graceful woman due to ballet. It has shaped me in every way.” WayBelieveI BelieveDuesBalletRefined Author:Misty Copeland
“The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If anything she is "more than" in this field.” IfsMenImportantPowerfulFieldsBallet Author:Misty Copeland
“My first ballet class was on a basketball court. I'm in my gym clothes and my socks trying to do this thing called ballet.” TryingFirstsClassBasketballClothesCourtGymBalletSockBasketball CourtBallet Class Author:Misty Copeland
“I don't feel like my life is that of a superstar! Every day I wake up, I take the train, I go to my ballet class. My everyday life is pretty normal.” FeelsLife IsClassNormalWake UpTrainEverydayBalletEveryday LifeSuperstarBallet Class Author:Misty Copeland
“I ended up training only for four years before I was accepted into American Ballet Theater in New York City.” YearsCitiesFourNew YorkTrainingTheaterAcceptedNew York CityBalletFour Years Author:Misty Copeland
“In a ballet company, you're trying to create unison and uniform when you're in a cour de ballet.” TryingCompanyBalletUniformsUnison Author:Misty Copeland
“Ballet is number one, everything else is scheduled in the small windows when I'm not in the studio taking class, rehearsing, on stage or on tour.” NumbersClassStageWindowStudiosBalletRehearsing Author:Misty Copeland
“Physical fears change and shift depending on the role and depending on the mindset I'm in.” RolesMindsetBallet Author:Misty Copeland
“Ballet.something pure in this crazy world” WorldCrazyPureBalletCrazy WorldThis Crazy World Author:Misty Copeland
“You can do anything you want, even if you are being told negative things.stay strong and find motivation.” IfsWantMotivationStrongCan DoNegativeBalletStay StrongMisty Author:Misty Copeland
