'The Company' was interesting. I didn't love it, although it might be compelling to someone who isn't a dancer. There wasn't a… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Being in ballet class, being on the stage, being surrounded by my peers at American Ballet Theater every day, keeps me so… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I had no idea what I was walking into, and the years and years of hard work it would take. I felt… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I think most people think of ballerinas as kind of either as a fairytale, far-away thing that's really not attainable, something they… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I think American Ballet Theatre is setting that standard now for classical ballet, that you can dream big, and it doesn't matter… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Going on stage and doing ballet, for the first time, was even more verification of, "This is what I'm meant to do.… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
What makes people and companies and artistic directors and choreographers interested in working with dancers is the ability to kind of let… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I think all dancers are control freaks a bit. We just want to be in control of ourselves and our bodies. That's… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I think body-image issues are not just a dancer thing. I think we're much more in tune and aware because the body… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I say over and over again that I am just standing on the shoulders of so many who have set this path… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I wanted to open the dialogue about race in ballet and bring more people in. It's just beautiful to see the interest… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
It's going to take a while before we see a real shift in the students and the dancers that are going into… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
It's hard to change someone's ideas when they might not even really consciously know that they're being racist, or have racist ideas,… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I would have young dancers come to me and ask me questions and want to know what my experiences were like: 'What's… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
A young girl reached out to me to be her mentor one day, which I didn't really know anything about. What I… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character -… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I was the first person in my family who was ever interested in dance, or fine art of any kind for that… — 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
