“I had no idea what I was walking into, and the years and years of hard work it would take. I felt like an outsider and like it was never going to happen. But even if I would have known, I think I still would have done it. Dancers are perfectionists, and that's what keeps us going and growing.” IfsThinkingYearsStillsIdeasHardDoneHappensFeltKnownGrowingHard WorkWalkingNo IdeaDancerWorking ItOutsidersPerfectionist Author:Misty Copeland
“I think most people don't really understand all that it takes to stand on your toes, and to be able to jump and land without any noise, or for a male dancer to be able to lift a girl. All of these things look so effortless, but there's an attention to detail and years of training, as well as being able to transform into a character and being able to meld all of those things together.” PeopleThinkingYearsWellsLooksCharacterAbleTogetherGirlAttentionLandTrainingMalesDetailsNoiseLiftsDancerToesEffortlessAttention To Detail Author:Misty Copeland
“Going on stage and transcending the audience and becoming this otherworldly thing makes you a dancer. It's not so black and white.” BlackWhiteAudienceStageBecomingDancerBlack And WhiteTranscending 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
“I absolutely love what I do. And I want to dance for as long as I can and feel good about what I'm putting out there on the stage. But my goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT. Before I knew that there had never been a black woman, that was always my goal. I wanted to dance Odette-Odile and Kitri and "Don Quixote" and Aurora in "Sleeping Beauty." So that's still my goal. But knowing that it's never been done before, I think makes me fight even harder.” ThinkingWantFeelsLongStillsI CanDoneWantedFightingGoalBlackSleepKnowingStageHarderFeel GoodDancerPrincipalBlack WomenSleeping BeautyAurora 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
“What makes people and companies and artistic directors and choreographers interested in working with dancers is the ability to kind of let go of everything you think you know and be a blank canvas.” PeopleThinkingKnowsKindAbilityCompanyDirectorsLetting GoArtisticDancerBlankCanvasChoreographersYou Think You KnowBlank Canvas Author:Misty Copeland
“My goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT.” GoalDancerPrincipal Author:Misty Copeland
“I will never be the best dancer or artist. I will be growing until the day I retire.” ArtistGrowingBeing The BestDancerRetiring Author:Misty Copeland
“I will push myself in different ventures that I believe will make me a better artist, dancer and person.” BelievePersonsDifferentArtistI BelieveDancerVenture Author:Misty Copeland
“My body is very different from most of the dancers I dance with. My hair is different than most I dance with. But I didn't let that stop me. Black girls rock and can be ballerinas.” DifferentBodyGirlBlackRocksHairEmpoweringDancerEmpowering WomenBallerinaBlack Girl Author:Misty Copeland
