Misty Copeland is an American ballet dancer.
Kansas City native Misty Copeland, raised in San Pedro, California, began ballet at 13, quickly garnishing accolades like the ABT’s National Coca-Cola Scholar in 2000.
Joining American Ballet Theatre in 2001, she climbed ranks to Principal Dancer by 2015, mastering diverse, prominent roles.
Her creativity blossomed, crafting unique roles in various productions.
Besides her illustrious dance career, Copeland, an author of best-selling books, is recognized for contributions to the arts and youth, holding prestigious awards and appointments including a presidential council position and the TIME 100 acknowledgment in 2015.
Her legacy extends beyond ballet, inspiring many through her journey and achievements.
I have made a list of the best quotes by Misty Copeland.
Best Misty Copeland Quotes
I think that training is the key, definitely, and I devoted my life to it. ~ Misty Copeland.
I want to share the ballet world with everyone. ~ Misty Copeland.
I believe that I definitely developed into a refined and graceful woman due to ballet. It has shaped me in every way. ~ Misty Copeland.
All you can do is be your best self. I’m representing more than just me. I think everyone should be like that. ~ Misty Copeland.
Without my mentors, there is no Misty. ~ Misty Copeland.
It’s time to write our own story. ~ 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. ~ Misty Copeland.
Put on a performance that hid all the strings, leaving only stardust for the audience to see. ~ Misty Copeland.
I’m a classical ballet dancer, and at the end of the day I want to be with American Ballet Theater, performing classical ballets. ~ Misty Copeland.
But I think the more you eat healthy clean foods the more you create them. ~ Misty Copeland.
Famous Misty Copeland Quotes
When I was younger, my feet would hurt a lot, but you build up calluses and strength and you don’t feel as much pain there. ~ Misty Copeland.
I do think Under Armour is setting a new example for what a ballerina is, and that you can be feminine and an athlete and represent what a woman is at the same time. ~ Misty Copeland.
Ballet was exactly what I was searching for, but my environment definitely made me the dancer and the person that I am today. And the Hip-Hop culture was a big part of it. ~ Misty Copeland.
I think I’m pretty laid back. I like cooking, being at home, and going to concerts. And I love to shop! ~ Misty Copeland.
I shouldn’t even be wearing a tutu. I don’t have the right legs, my muscles are too big. ~ Misty Copeland.
Knowing that it has never been done before makes me want to fight even harder. ~ Misty Copeland.
I think that I’m so fortunate to have found classical ballet. It completely changed my life and it shaped the person that I am today, on and off the stage. ~ Misty Copeland.
I’m a pescatarian, so I don’t eat red meat or pork. So my dinners usually consist of seafood in e way. And maybe cookies after! ~ Misty Copeland.
Something happens when you feel that energy and excitement from the audience. And you do, I don’t know, four pirouettes. You jump higher than you ever have. And it’s just this really magical thing that happens in those moments. ~ Misty Copeland.
I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday. ~ Misty Copeland.
When you see the body outside of a costume and see the strength that it takes, people would look at dance a different way and see how athletic it is. You’re not just born like that. ~ Misty Copeland.
Inspiring Misty Copeland Quotes
It takes a lot of money to be a part of the ballet world. Both the training and the supplies are expensive, the shoes, the leotards and the tights. ~ Misty Copeland.
I absolutely love what I do, and I want to dance for as long as I can and feel good about what I am putting out there on the stage. ~ Misty Copeland.
I can do anything when I am in a tutu. ~ Misty Copeland.
I ended up training only for four years before I was accepted into American Ballet Theater in New York City. ~ Misty Copeland.
I feel like I represent every young dancer, and even non-dancer, who felt they were not accepted by the ballet world. I’d like to think that they can see themselves in me. ~ Misty Copeland.
Just to get into a company like ABT is a dream come true, but to have all of these opportunities on top of it, I don’t think it will hit me until I’m 70. I’ll be like, Oh, my god, remember that amazing life you had? It’s an incredible honor to be a part of something like ABT. ~ Misty Copeland.
Meeting Raven Wilkinson and having her as a mentor, it was that kind of support from the generations that came before me that helped to lift me up and give me the confidence to then be able to give back and bring other minorities with me on this journey. ~ Misty Copeland.
Success is not easy and I think everyone should know that hard work and perseverance and being open to giving back are so much more powerful than stepping all over people to get to the top. ~ 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 everything you think you know and be a blank canvas. ~ Misty Copeland.
I’ve gotten nothing but warmth from the Black community and positive feedback. ~ Misty Copeland.
My goal has always been to be a principal dancer with ABT. ~ Misty Copeland.
Top Misty Copeland Quotes
I learned how to communicate and articulate myself from ballet. It’s just insane to me, when they don’t think of that as a part of our education. ~ Misty Copeland.
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.
I think anything that affects me in my personal life is going to help me be a better artist on stage. ~ Misty Copeland.
I don’t think a lot of people really understand the commitment it takes to being a character that an actor in Hollywood would take to approaching a role that they’re doing. ~ Misty Copeland.
The space between you and me is longer than forever and I will show them that forever is not so far away. ~ Misty Copeland.
Don’t underestimate yourself. You are more capable than you think. ~ Misty Copeland.
Physical fears change and shift depending on the role and depending on the mindset I’m in. ~ 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 is so detailed. ~ Misty Copeland.
The path to your success is not as fixed and inflexible as you think. ~ Misty Copeland.
I never knew I wanted to become a ballerina. I was discovered at the age of 13. I had a love for movement even though I had no exposure to dance other than what I saw in music videos, like hip-hop music videos. But I knew that I loved moving. ~ Misty Copeland.
Know that you can start late, look different, be uncertain and still succeed. ~ Misty Copeland.
I’m definitely very careful about the things that I want to be a part of, but it’s also important for me to get dance out there to more people. ~ Misty Copeland.
Popular Misty Copeland Quotes
Start unknown, finish unforgettable. ~ Misty Copeland.
Even if I weren’t learning new roles and getting the opportunity to be coached by incredible people, I still think I would be so excited to have an opportunity to continue to push myself and grow, as an artist. ~ Misty Copeland.
I definitely like to be natural and more relaxed and not wear a lot of makeup. ~ Misty Copeland.
A lot of people think, Oh I’m going to eat whatever I want and then go to the gym. And I’ve definitely been one of those people and it just doesn’t give me the results that I need to have the physique of a ballerina. ~ Misty Copeland.
It’s really amazing that I was discovered and that I’ve been given these great opportunities to travel the world and work with amazing artists. I’m very blessed. ~ Misty Copeland.
Maybe I’m seeing myself in a different way than the people in the audience see me, ’cause to me, I think I look like a ballerina and I feel like a ballerina. But maybe I’m not seeing what other people are seeing. ~ Misty Copeland.
Hopefully, I’ll be a part of ABT, in some way, forever. I think I’ll always be a part of ballet and try to push diversity, for as long as I live. ~ 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 anything to me, until I was older and could look back on it. ~ Misty Copeland.
Great Misty Copeland Quotes
My career came together very quickly. I only trained for four years before I became a professional, so I didn’t have a lot of time to sit back and be inspired before I took my first ballet class. ~ 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 outsider and like it was never going to happen. But even if I would have known, I think I still would have done it. Dancers are perfectionists, and that’s what keeps us going and growing. ~ Misty Copeland.
Decide what you want. Declare it to the world. See yourself winning. And remember that if you are persistent as well as patient, you can get whatever you seek. ~ Misty Copeland.
You can dream big and it doesn’t matter what you look like, where you come from. ~ Misty Copeland.
Ballet found me. I was discovered by a teacher in middle school. I always danced, my whole life. I never had any training, never was exposed to seeing dance, but I always had something inside of me. ~ Misty Copeland.
I just try to approach every opportunity on stage, as if it’s my first time and my last time. ~ Misty Copeland.
I don’t feel like my life is that of a superstar! Every day I wake up, I take the train, I go to my ballet class. My everyday life is pretty normal. ~ Misty Copeland.
In a ballet company, you’re trying to create unison and uniform when you’re in a cour de ballet. ~ Misty Copeland.
The higher you go up in rank, usually the longer you can dance. ~ 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 is more than in this field. ~ Misty Copeland.
Inspirational Misty Copeland Quotes
I was aware of my race from a very young age. Not in a negative way. Coming from an interracial background, I think it is important to understand who you are. ~ Misty Copeland.
It’s difficult to exist as a woman, especially I think as a powerful woman. You want to stand strong and you want to be considered and equal. ~ Misty Copeland.
Once I became a professional, maybe 19 or 20, I really started to try to figure out who I was, as a woman and as an individual. ~ Misty Copeland.
Going on stage and doing ballet, for the first time, was even more verification of, This is what I’m meant to do. This is what I’m going to do. I’m going to make it somehow. ~ Misty Copeland.
That it’s possible to do positive things and I think that’s how we’re going to set an example to be respected as women in the world. ~ Misty Copeland.
I knew that I just didn’t have it in me to give up, even if I sometimes felt like a fool for continuing to believe. ~ Misty Copeland.
You’re always working to improve, and you’re always being critiqued on your next performance. It’s not about what you’ve done. There’s always room to grow. ~ Misty Copeland.
This is for the little brown girls. ~ Misty Copeland.
Memorable Misty Copeland Quotes
I know that I’ll forever be involved in ballet. This is where my life was meant to be, and I don’t see myself straying completely away, ever. ~ Misty Copeland.
My body is very different from most of the dancers I dance with. My hair is different than most I dance with. But I didn’t let that stop me. Black girls rock and can be ballerinas. ~ Misty Copeland.
I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there. ~ Misty Copeland.
Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you. ~ Misty Copeland.
The best piece of advice that I remember probably on a daily basis is to accept everything about me that is different. That is what makes me special. ~ Misty Copeland.
I just want to leave a positive memory of setting an example and bringing our youth with us. ~ Misty Copeland.
So these were the 80 top Misty Copeland quotes and sayings.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on Tommy Lasorda quotes and Abbie Hoffman quotes.
Short Biography of Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland made history as the first Black woman Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre.
Known for iconic roles in ballets like “Swan Lake” and “Romeo & Juliet,” she’s graced the covers of major magazines and appeared on popular TV shows.
| Full Name | Misty Copeland |
| Born | September 10, 1982, Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| Spouse | Olu Evans |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents | Sylvia DelaCerna, Doug Copeland |
| Education | San Pedro High School, San Francisco Ballet, Point Fermin Elementary School |
| Siblings | Erica Stephanie Copeland, Christopher Ryan Copeland |
| Current Group | American Ballet Theatre |
| Height | 1.57 m |
| Website | mistycopeland.com |
Misty has performed at high-profile events, made her Broadway and film debuts and started a production company focused on arts activism.
An active philanthropist and bestselling author, she supports educational programs and has written several books including memoirs and children’s stories.
Quick Facts about Misty Copeland
- Misty Copeland kicked off her ballet journey at 13, a bit late by ballet standards.
- She grew up facing tough times, nearly hitting homelessness.
- Within a year of starting ballet, Misty clinched a win at a national ballet contest.
- Critics doubted her due to her body type, but Misty proved them wrong.
- In 2000, she joined the American Ballet Theater Studio Company.
- By 2001, Misty was part of the Corps de ballet, the entry-level group in a ballet company.
- A back injury benched her during her first year with the company.
- Standing at just 5’2″, Misty’s talent outshone her petite stature.
- Dance Magazine spotted her potential early on, naming her in their “25 to Watch” in 2003.
- Misty’s promotion to soloist came in 2007, marking a milestone at just 24.
- Prince featured her in a music video in 2009 and invited her on his tour in 2010.
- As a soloist in 2012, Misty took on leading roles, notably in The Firebird.
- Her autobiography “Life in Motion” hit the shelves in 2014, sharing her inspiring journey.
- The same year, Under Armour signed her as a sponsored athlete.
- Misty also shone as a guest judge on “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 11.
- In 2015, Time 100 recognized her as a leading figure.
- She debuted as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Metropolitan Opera House in 2015.
- Her first performance in ABT’s Swan Lake was in June 2015.
- Misty made history as ABT’s first African-American female Principal Dancer in 2015.
- Born in Kansas City, Mo., Misty was raised in California, where she pursued her ballet dreams.
- She trained under the Bradleys but stayed with her mother after a custody dispute.
- Copeland completed her high school education before fully committing to ballet.
- Facing racial prejudice, she was often told she didn’t fit the ballet mold.
- Ballet boosted her confidence, helping her overcome shyness.
- A strong advocate for diversity, Misty inspires many young dancers.
- Contrary to rumors, she never dated Prince.
- In 2008, she received the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship for her contributions to ballet.
- Misty is also a celebrated author, with a children’s book and a best-selling memoir to her name.
- Her career and influence were highlighted in the documentary “A Ballerina’s Tale.”
- Misty’s journey from a challenging upbringing to ballet stardom has made her a role model for aspiring dancers.
Top Questions about Misty Copeland
A: Misty Copeland started ballet training at the age of 13.
A: She began at the Boys & Girls Club in San Pedro, California.
A: She won a national ballet competition just one year after starting.
A: She was told she had the wrong body for ballet.
A: She was a member of the Corps de ballet.
A: She was sidelined due to a back injury.
A: Misty is only 5’2” tall.
A: She was named to Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.”
A: She was promoted to soloist in 2007.
A: She filmed a music video and performed with him during his Welcome 2 America tour.
A: She debuted in June 2012 at the Metropolitan Opera House.
A: The title is “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.”
A: She became a sponsored athlete of Under Armour.
A: She made history on June 30, 2015.
A: Misty Copeland is also a public speaker, celebrity spokesperson, and stage performer. She has authored two autobiographical books and provided the narration for a documentary about her career called “A Ballerina’s Tale.”
A: Misty Copeland had her first child, a son named Jackson, at the age of 39.
A: Misty Copeland is seen as a hero because she became the first African American woman to be a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, inspiring many with her groundbreaking achievement.
A: Misty Copeland married Olu Evans in 2016. They had been together for 10 years before getting married and tend to keep their relationship private.
A: Misty Copeland became well-known for being the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. She has also authored several books, contributing to her popularity.
