I was on a path. I was going to become a principal dancer. I never let my mind rest. — 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
I will never be the best dancer or artist. I will be growing until the day I retire. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
My curves became an integral part of who I am as a dancer, not something I needed to lose to become one. — 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
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
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
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
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
I feel like I represent every young dancer, and even non-dancer, who felt they were not accepted by the ballet world. I'd… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I'm a classical ballet dancer, and at the end of the day I want to be with American Ballet Theater, performing classical… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Ballet was exactly what I was searching for, but my environment definitely made me the dancer and the person that I am… — 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
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 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 don't really understand all that it takes to stand on your toes, and to be able to jump… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I absolutely love what I do. And I want to dance for as long as I can and feel good about what… — 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
