--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I always felt a connection to…" description: "\"I think I always felt a connection to music and to movement. Growing up, I was surrounded by R&B and Hip-Hop, and the closest thing I could find to dan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/misty-copeland-2012_closest_i-think-i-always-felt-a-connection-to-mu_2044370.png" --- # I think I always felt a connection to music and to… ![“I think I always felt a connection to music and to movement. Growing up, I was surrounded by R&B and Hip-Hop, and the closest thing I could find to dance was gymnastics which I watched on TV.” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/misty-copeland-2012_closest_i-think-i-always-felt-a-connection-to-mu_2044370.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/misty-copeland-2012_closest_i-think-i-always-felt-a-connection-to-mu_2044370.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/misty-copeland-2012_closest_i-think-i-always-felt-a-connection-to-mu_2044370.png) > “I think I always felt a connection to music and to movement. Growing up, I was surrounded by R&B and Hip-Hop, and the closest thing I could find to dance was gymnastics which I watched on TV.” [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She links personal artistic expression to early cultural influences, seeing movement as a bridge between music and self. **In simple terms:** Music and movement shaped her identity. Key Takeaway Embrace cultural roots in creative pursuits. Themes identity art culture self‑expression Mood reflective inspired Type personal motivational When to use this quote - dance training - personal storytelling - community arts - youth mentorship Key Concepts embodiment influence heritage Questions to Reflect On - How does early music shape your creative path? - What role does movement play in your self‑identity? A Different Perspective May overlook structural barriers to access. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Gymnastics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gymnastics/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Growing up, I was surrounded by R&B and Hip-Hop, and the closest thing I could find to dance was gymnastics which I watched on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/growing-up-i-was-surrounded-by-r-b-and-hip-hop-and-the-closest-thing/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Fans make you understand it was more than music to them. It was a movement, a voice they felt they didn't have that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepa/fans-make-you-understand-it-was-more-than-music-to-them-it-was-a/) [Pepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepa/) > [One of the most important parts of the civil rights movement that people don't talk about was these mass meetings. It's like "Movement Church."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-nelson-jr/one-of-the-most-important-parts-of-the-civil-rights-movement-that/) [Stanley Nelson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-nelson-jr/) > [There's a Slow Food movement. I think I'm part of the Slow Music movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gabriel/there-s-a-slow-food-movement-i-think-i-m-part-of-the-slow-music/) [Peter Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gabriel/) > [I've always been hands on with my music and my movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/i-ve-always-been-hands-on-with-my-music-and-my-movement/) [Raheem DeVaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/) > [Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/music-is-the-movement-of-sound-to-reach-the-soul-for-the-education-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I was very engaged by the folk music movement.Bob Dylan; Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary. And then I sort of discovered world music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-was-very-engaged-by-the-folk-music-movement-bob-dylan-joan-baez/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [It is one thing to do your dance on a beach and quite another to collaborate intimately with the sand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-jowitt/it-is-one-thing-to-do-your-dance-on-a-beach-and-quite-another-to/) Deborah Jowitt > [When you're 50, the best thing to do is dance the Argentinean tango.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/when-you-re-50-the-best-thing-to-do-is-dance-the-argentinean-tango/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [The one good thing about dance is that if you are truly yourself, then it's all good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-reinking/the-one-good-thing-about-dance-is-that-if-you-are-truly-yourself-then/) [Ann Reinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-reinking/) > [When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I'll tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/when-a-body-moves-it-s-the-most-revealing-thing-dance-for-me-a-minute/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [The most essential thing in dance discipline is devotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cunningham/the-most-essential-thing-in-dance-discipline-is-devotion/) [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) > [It's not my thing to dance in my living room on a livestream, so I'm really having to figure out ways to elevate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/it-s-not-my-thing-to-dance-in-my-living-room-on-a-livestream-so-i-m/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [There is an energy within... pure strength... the energy of the person which is put in different forms, in different shapes... once we discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/there-is-an-energy-within-pure-strength-the-energy-of-the-person/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) ## More by Misty Copeland > [I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps, but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-traced-the-marley-floor-with-my-pointe-shoes-and-imagine-myself-on/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-i-was-16-i-moved-to-torrance-california-to-train-at-a-more/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/to-be-empathetic-to-everyone-around-you-i-think-is-such-a-powerful/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-first-ballet-class-was-on-a-basketball-court-i-m-in-my-gym-clothes/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/there-are-muscles-that-we-have-in-our-feet-that-most-human-beings-don/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/be-strong-be-fearless-be-beautiful-and-believe-that-anything-is/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If anything she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-woman-represents-ballet-she-is-most-important-powerful-and-vital/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/if-i-m-put-in-a-situation-where-i-am-not-really-sure-what-s-going-to/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-never-experienced-getting-nervous-on-stage-i-think-i-was-most/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-word-prodigy-was-thrown-around-a-lot-but-i-didn-t-understand-what/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-think-that-the-ideal-physique-and-look-of-a-ballerina-is-always/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character - the perseverance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/once-you-become-a-professional-to-get-through-a-ballet-like-swan-lake/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Perseverance has always just been something that was in me. And it was a tool that came in very handy as a ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/perseverance-has-always-just-been-something-that-was-in-me-and-it-was/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-was-17-when-i-moved-to-nyc-i-m-now-32-but-i-do-know-i-can-t-see/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I grew up poor in San Pedro, California, sleeping on the floor of shady motels with my five siblings and not always sure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-grew-up-poor-in-san-pedro-california-sleeping-on-the-floor-of-shady/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) [Explore all 191 Misty Copeland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## More Closest quotes > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Your closest and your most dedicated fans will be your ultimate test. They will test you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/your-closest-and-your-most-dedicated-fans-will-be-your-ultimate-test/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [“The closest she got to pretence was politeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/the-closest-she-got-to-pretence-was-politeness/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [The first responsibility of the Muslim is as teacher. That is his job, to teach. His first school, his first classroom is within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/the-first-responsibility-of-the-muslim-is-as-teacher-that-is-his-job/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [One my closest friends doesn't care about sharing her clothes or jewelry, but she never shares her fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/one-my-closest-friends-doesn-t-care-about-sharing-her-clothes-or/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [Life’s a journey that goes round and round and the end is closest to the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/life-s-a-journey-that-goes-round-and-round-and-the-end-is-closest-to/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I keep a lot to myself, and I cherish the things that are for me and the people closest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/i-keep-a-lot-to-myself-and-i-cherish-the-things-that-are-for-me-and/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [I am not somebody who likes to give advice, or anything like that, unless it's my closest friends or family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-am-not-somebody-who-likes-to-give-advice-or-anything-like-that/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [On foreign policy, President Obama has kept our nation safe from terrorism and restored our standing in the world. When it comes to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-schumer/on-foreign-policy-president-obama-has-kept-our-nation-safe-from/) [Chuck Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-schumer/) > [You never know really what anyone thinks about you - that's why all my closest friends are ones I've had since my schooling days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cooper/you-never-know-really-what-anyone-thinks-about-you-that-s-why-all-my/) [Dominic Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cooper/) > [Arthur Conan Doyle was entranced by the notion of a brilliant detective who can deduce everything a stranger has been up to from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/arthur-conan-doyle-was-entranced-by-the-notion-of-a-brilliant/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [A reflection of an exact image is the closest thing to you-so that you can see it-but it's far enough away so that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-bentley/a-reflection-of-an-exact-image-is-the-closest-thing-to-you-so-that/) [Wes Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-bentley/) > [...bookstores, libraries... they're the closest thing I have to a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/bookstores-libraries-they-re-the-closest-thing-i-have-to-a-church/) [Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/) Browse all 695 Closest quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I always felt a connection to music and to movement. 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