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
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
It's a European art form, and you're used to seeing a certain type of person as a ballerina. And I don't look… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I learned how to communicate and articulate myself from ballet. It's just insane to me, when they don't think of that as… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Hopefully, I'll be a part of ABT, in some way, forever. I think I'll always be a part of ballet and try… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I think that I'm so fortunate to have found classical ballet. It completely changed my life and it shaped the person that… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
Before dance came into my life, I don't really remember having any major goals or dreams of wanting to be anything. — 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
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
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
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 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 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
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
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
Ballet was this thing that just felt so innate in me, like I was meant to be doing this. — 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
In a ballet company, you're trying to create unison and uniform when you're in a cour de ballet. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I believe that I definitely developed into a refined and graceful woman due to ballet. It has shaped me in every way. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
I think that having a platform and having a voice to be seen by people beyond the classical ballet world has really… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
It's all so surreal, and I'm living my dream. And you know, principal or not, I'm getting to dance all the roles… — 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
It takes a lot of money to be a part of the ballet world. Both the training and the supplies are expensive,… — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
The ballet world I don't think is an art form that is quick to change or to adjust or evolve. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
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 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
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
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
'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
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
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
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
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'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
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 Image
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 Image
To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold. — 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 called ballet. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there. — Misty Copeland Copy Share Image
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 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
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 Image
