I never thought of myself as special or particularly good at anything. But once I started ballet, suddenly I had a new… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
At least in my performances, the audience has become so diverse in a way that I don't think ballet has ever experienced. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I ended up training only for four years before I was accepted into American Ballet Theater in New York City. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I will push myself in different ventures that I believe will make me a better artist, dancer and person. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Depending on the level you're at in your company, the higher you go up in rank, usually the longer you can dance. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I know that I'll forever be involved in ballet. This is where my life was meant to be, and I don't see… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
My first ballet class was on a basketball court. I'm in my gym clothes and my socks trying to do this thing… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I'm definitely very careful about the things that I want to be a part of, but it's also important for me to… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Most ballerinas take their first ballet class when they are 5 or 6 years old. I was 13 when I took mine… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I wake up every morning, and I go to ballet class no matter what's going on the night before. That's my priority,… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
That something that I fought so hard for throughout the beginning of my career is I didn't want to pancake my skin… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
When you see the body outside of a costume and see the strength that it takes, people would look at dance a… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I haven’t come from the typical path or background of someone who would make it to this level as a ballerina. When… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
How difficult it is to exist, that we are athlete and artist. We have injuries. People don't see the hard side of… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
There are no taking days off. There are no distractions. If I had that, I physically wouldn't be capable of going onstage… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
40 years old is about the time a principal dancer would start to think about retirement, but some go on to dance… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
When I was dancing, I felt in control and happy. I'm a Virgo, so I really like to be in control. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Going on stage and transcending the audience and becoming this otherworldly thing makes you a dancer. It's not so black and white. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
It's hard to be the one that stands out when, you know, in a ballet company, you're trying to create unison and… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
The classical ballet world is so exclusive and small, and a lot of people don't know about it. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Dance kind of was always just a part of my natural state as a child. It's something that, whenever music was playing,… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I don't want to be anything else other than a ballerina. I love what I do outside of my work, but at… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I know that I'm talented, and I know that I'm not in American Ballet Theater because I'm black - I'm here because… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I was on a path. I was going to become a principal dancer. I never let my mind rest. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Ballet is number one, everything else is scheduled in the small windows when I'm not in the studio taking class, rehearsing, on… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps,… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I'm definitely influenced by the music. We dance to music, and you have to listen to it and phrase your dancing and… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Ballet found me. I was discovered by a teacher in middle school. I always danced, my whole life. I never had any… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I've always approached my career and my life, you know, one day at a time, as if this was the last day… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
'The Firebird' just symbolizes a lot for me and my career. It was one of the first really big principal roles that… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
My body is very different from most of the dancers I dance with. My hair is different than most I dance with.… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
My career came together very quickly. I only trained for four years before I became a professional, so I didn't have a… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I think I always felt a connection to music and to movement. Growing up, I was surrounded by R&B and Hip-Hop, and… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Being one of the few African American women to make it to this level in a classical ballet company, the level of… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I want the ballet world to be given the respect that it deserves and to be seen by more people - for… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Finding ballet gave me passion for the first time in my life. I was always very shy and just wanted to fit… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
In the ballet studio, it was such an organized and disciplined environment, like I'd never had in my life. Seeing myself in… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Ballet became this escape for me. I feel like I was on my own a lot. I was searching for stability, so… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps, but as… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold. — Misty Copeland Copy Share
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. — Misty Copeland Copy Share
There are muscles that we have in our feet that most human beings don't even know that we have. The strength that we have… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you. — Misty Copeland Copy Share
The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If anything she… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
If I'm put in a situation where I am not really sure what's going to happen, it can be overwhelming. I get a bit… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there. — Misty Copeland Copy Share
The word "prodigy" was thrown around a lot, but I didn't understand what that meant, or the weight of it. It didn't really mean… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change. — Misty Copeland Copy Share
Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character - the perseverance… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
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 Copy Share
I was 17 when I moved to NYC . I'm now 32. But I do know I can't see myself living anywhere else. I… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
I grew up poor in San Pedro, California, sleeping on the floor of shady motels with my five siblings and not always sure when… — Misty Copeland Copy Share
