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
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
The classical ballet world is so exclusive and small, and a lot of people don't know about it. — 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
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
Ballet found me, I guess you could say. I was discovered by a teacher in middle school. I always danced my whole… — 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
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
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
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 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 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
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
What you put into your body is just as important as how hard you dance. I believe with the right training and… — 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
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
'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
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 family didn't have very much money, so ballet wasn't even on my radar; I just found it randomly when I was… — 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
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
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 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
