The Life of
a Dancer
Ballet Dancer’s Amazing Journey from Rags to Riches
By Megan Lee
The bright lights shine on Misty Copland as she flies across the stage in her extravagant red costume. Everyone watches her perform as the blazing “Firebird,” but what they don't see is the story behind it all.
Misty Copeland is a soloist with the American Ballet Theater in New York City, one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world. It was not easy getting to this elite position but Copeland’s dedication and determination persevered.
Misty Copeland was born in Kansas City. Her parents divorced when she was only two years old, and her mother decided to relocate the family to Los Angeles. Once there, her mother married and divorced several times. Two more children were born and the family continued to move around a lot. Her mother was also unemployed most of the time. When Copeland was thirteen, the family lived in a motel. “That was the hardest time in my childhood…I had so much anxiety,” Copeland said.
This lifestyle of constant change created instability and uncertainty for Misty. She needed structure in her life. Ballet was the perfect fit. It is very structured and requires a great amount of discipline.
Copeland started ballet at the age of thirteen, whereas most dancers start at the age of three or four. She was noticed by her middle school drill team coach. He was impressed with her athletic skills and called a local ballet teacher, Cynthia Bradley. She invited Copeland to a class at a boys’ and girls’ club. However it wasn't until Copeland tried a class at Bradley’s dance academy, San Pedro Ballet School, when she truly fell in love with ballet. The teachers supplied her with pink ballet slippers and a new leotard—this made her feel as if she fit in.
Misty Copeland age thirteen preforms in the Music Center Spotlight Awards
Photo credits: www.makers.com
Most dancers wait years until they are strong enough to try pointe, but not Copeland. She was was dancing en pointe within three short months of training.
After a while, Copeland moved in with Bradley, her teacher. This made training easier and supplied her with a stable home. Copeland would often ask herself “Do I deserve this?” Since she came from so little, she was so unused to this lifestyle.
Unfortunately, tensions rose between her mother and Bradley, and the arrangement didn't last very long. Copeland’s mother wanted her to come home. Bradley and Copeland tried to fight it, but their efforts failed. Copeland's mother went as far as hiring a well-known attorney, and attention from the media followed. Against her wishes, Copeland had to appear on a talk show. “The attention was devastating,” she said.
Because of all that she has been through over the years, Copeland sought help through therapy and now realizes that both Bradley and her mother just wanted what was best for her.
Through it all, Copeland flourished. She was accepted into the American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT) Summer Intensive program, and after two summers with them, she was invited to join the studio company, which led to the corps de ballet.
As Copeland reached puberty, her body started to change and she had to readjust her efforts in many ways. She was criticized for her new figure and learned that she couldn’t eat junk food like she used to. She remembers it as being a “dark time.” In 2004, she met Olu who is still her boyfriend to this day. They became close and he helped her get through this difficult time.
Today, in addition to appearing in many commercials and magazines, Copeland has done music videos with famous stars, including Prince.
Copeland is also very involved in “Project Plié.” This foundation helps encourage more diverse children to train to become ballerinas. Copeland finds that this is relatable to her past. "I had some really incredible people who mentored me, and gave me things I never got from my parents. I think it's so important for young dancers of color to have someone who looks like them as an example—someone they can touch,” Copeland says.
Misty Copeland has excelled as a dancer at The American Ballet Theatre. This photo shows Copeland at barre in class.
Photo Credits: www.poetry-of-the-foot.blogspot.com
Misty Copeland’s is a successful ABT solosist and strives to become a principal dancer with the company.
Photo credits: www.abt.com
Misty Copeland’s photo shoot from Nelson George’s documentary that she was featured in
Photo Credits: www.okayplayer.com
Misty Copeland at age thirteen in Bradley’s class en pointe
Photo Credits: www.elle.com