Everything I was being shown was ABT, so I grew up watching these videos of [Mikhail] Baryshnikov, Gelsey [Kirkland] and Paloma [Herrera]. Paloma and Angel [Corella] were the first people I ever saw dance live. Misty Copeland More Quotes by Misty Copeland More Quotes From Misty Copeland I say over and over again that I am just standing on the shoulders of so many who have set this path for me, and they may not be seen or recognized or have been given an opportunity to have a voice, but I'm here representing all of those dancers. Dance Theatre of Harlem Virginia Johnson, Tai Jimenez, Lauren Anderson. Misty Copeland i-am me dance opportunity Perseverance has always just been something that was in me. And it was a tool that came in very handy as a ballerina. Misty Copeland something me always perseverance I wanted to open the dialogue about race in ballet and bring more people in. It's just beautiful to see the interest that has exploded for such an incredible art form that I will forever be grateful to! Misty Copeland grateful beautiful people art When I was younger, my feet would hurt a lot, but you build up calluses and strength, and you don't feel as much pain there. But then again, it's a give and take. The older you get, you may feel pain in your back or your hips. Misty Copeland feel you pain strength A young girl reached out to me to be her mentor one day, which I didn't really know anything about. What I did remember was what it was to be alone as an African-American dancer in the ballet world and wanting to connect with someone who looks like me. Misty Copeland alone day me girl Ballet became this escape for me. I feel like I was on my own a lot. I was searching for stability, so I was going off on my own and imagining what I thought stability was. Ballet became a way for me to cope. Misty Copeland feel thought me way I want to bring awareness to the lack of diversity in ballet, and feel like that's a large part of my purpose. Misty Copeland feel diversity purpose want I'm definitely influenced by the music. We dance to music, and you have to listen to it and phrase your dancing and movement in a certain way to compliment the music. We have to work hand in hand, the dancer and the music. Misty Copeland you music dance work Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself. Misty Copeland myself prove dance time More often than we realize, people see in us what we don't see in ourselves. Misty Copeland realize more see people Ballet found me, I guess you could say. 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. I would love to choreograph and dance around. Misty Copeland me teacher love life I think body-image issues are not just a dancer thing. I think we're much more in tune and aware because the body is our instrument and art, and we stare at ourselves in a mirror all day, but I feel like it's something that every woman experiences and every girl experiences. Misty Copeland mirror day girl art I don't eat a ton of pasta or bread. But I eat dessert almost every night, and I drink. You need a bit of balance, and I've found mine. Misty Copeland you drink balance night My curves became an integral part of who I am as a dancer, not something I needed to lose to become one. Misty Copeland lose i-am something curves I never thought of myself as special or particularly good at anything. But once I started ballet, suddenly I had a new identity: prodigy. Misty Copeland thought good myself identity Every time I step onto the stage, it's not only proving to the audience that I'm capable but to myself. Misty Copeland step myself stage time I've always approached my career and my life, you know, one day at a time, as if this was the last day that I'm going, because you never know as an athlete and as a dancer. You never know what can happen today, tomorrow. Misty Copeland day time today life In the ballet studio, it was such an organized and disciplined environment, like I'd never had in my life. Seeing myself in the mirror, surrounded by the classical music, that's when I started to fall in love with dance. Misty Copeland myself music love life To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold. Misty Copeland everyone think you powerful 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. I didn't know anything about it. Misty Copeland know gym clothes basketball
