--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My goal has always been to be a principal…" description: "\"My goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT.\" — Misty Copeland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/misty-copeland-2012_dance_my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principa_2878562.png" --- # My goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT. ![“My goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT.” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/misty-copeland-2012_dance_my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principa_2878562.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/misty-copeland-2012_dance_my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principa_2878562.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/misty-copeland-2012_dance_my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principa_2878562.png) > “My goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT.” [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. A lifelong dream of principal dancing drives dedication. **In simple terms:** Dream of dancing at the top. Key Takeaway Commit to disciplined practice. Themes ambition discipline art Mood determined inspired Type motivational practical When to use this quote - ballet training - goal setting - mentor seeking Key Concepts dance physiology career aspiration Questions to Reflect On - What daily habit builds mastery? - How to balance health and ambition? A Different Perspective Physical strain may hinder dreams. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Dancer Abt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer-abt-3977421/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goal Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal-principal-2555104/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principal/) [Principal Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principal-dancer-2394306/) ## Related quotes > [I absolutely love what I do. And I want to dance for as long as I can and feel good about what I'm putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-absolutely-love-what-i-do-and-i-want-to-dance-for-as-long-as-i-can-2/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [40 years old is about the time a principal dancer would start to think about retirement, but some go on to dance a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/40-years-old-is-about-the-time-a-principal-dancer-would-start-to/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I was on a path. I was going to become a principal dancer. I never let my mind rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-was-on-a-path-i-was-going-to-become-a-principal-dancer-i-never-let/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I thought I would be a teacher; I think my eventual goal was to be the principal of my old high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-labine/i-thought-i-would-be-a-teacher-i-think-my-eventual-goal-was-to-be-the/) [Tyler Labine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-labine/) > [I'm very proud of the colour of my skin and that I'm inspiring people from all backgrounds, but I think it will be great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-hayward/i-m-very-proud-of-the-colour-of-my-skin-and-that-i-m-inspiring-people/) [Francesca Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-hayward/) > [In the Royal Ballet Company, there was a Japanese principal dancer, and onstage and in ballet, they have colorblind castings - so I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonoya-mizuno/in-the-royal-ballet-company-there-was-a-japanese-principal-dancer-and/) [Sonoya Mizuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonoya-mizuno/) > [I will never be the best dancer or artist. I will be growing until the day I retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-will-never-be-the-best-dancer-or-artist-i-will-be-growing-until-the/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [What makes people and companies and artistic directors and choreographers interested in working with dancers is the ability to kind of let go of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/what-makes-people-and-companies-and-artistic-directors-and/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I had no idea what I was walking into, and the years and years of hard work it would take. I felt like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-had-no-idea-what-i-was-walking-into-and-the-years-and-years-of-hard/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I will push myself in different ventures that I believe will make me a better artist, dancer and person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-will-push-myself-in-different-ventures-that-i-believe-will-make-me/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/to-chase-the-glowing-hours-with-flying-feet/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) ## 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 Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Misty Copeland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principal-dancer-with-abt/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principal-dancer-with-abt/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/misty-copeland-2012_dance_my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principa_2878562.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/misty-copeland-2012_dance_my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principa_2878562.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/misty-copeland-2012_dance_my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principa_2878562.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT.” — Misty Copeland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Misty Copeland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My goal has always been to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principal-dancer-with-abt/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-goal-has-always-been-to-be-a-principal-dancer-with-abt/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```