38 Misty Copeland Quotes for You to Enjoy

Misty Copeland

American Dancer

Born: Sep 10, 1982

Ballet Dance Me People Think You

Related authors: Alvin Ailey Dita Von Teese JoJo Siwa Katherine Dunham Martha Graham Merce Cunningham Mikhail Baryshnikov Twyla Tharp

My childhood is a part of my story, and it's why I'm who I am today and why my career is what it is. Misty Copeland

Today Part Am Childhood Story Who Why Career

I think all dancers are control freaks a bit. We just want to be in control of ourselves and our bodies. That's just what the ballet structure, I think, kind of puts inside of you. Misty Copeland

You Control Think Our Dancers Bit Ourselves Kind Freaks Inside Structure Puts Ballet Just Want Bodies

All you can do is be your best self. I've always felt that I had to be that much more aware of how I present myself. I'm representing more than just me. I think every person should think that way. Misty Copeland

Finding ballet was like finding this missing piece of myself. Misty Copeland

Myself Finding Missing Like Piece Ballet

I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps, but as a principal dancer. It felt right. It felt like a promise. Some day, somehow, it was going to happen for me. Misty Copeland

I say over and over again that I am just standing on the shoulders of so many who have set this path for me, and they may not be seen or recognized or have been given an opportunity to have a voice, but I'm here representing all of those dancers. Dance Theatre of Harlem Virginia Johnson, Tai Jimenez, Lauren Anderson. Misty Copeland

Me Theatre Opportunity Path Dance Seen Virginia Dancers Say Those Recognized Anderson Lauren Given Voice Johnson Over Am Been May Just Representing Again Shoulders Standing Who Many Here Harlem Set

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. But then again, it's a give and take. The older you get, you may feel pain in your back or your hips. Misty Copeland

A young girl reached out to me to be her mentor one day, which I didn't really know anything about. What I did remember was what it was to be alone as an African-American dancer in the ballet world and wanting to connect with someone who looks like me. Misty Copeland

Alone Day Me World Remember Girl Young Dancer One Day Out About Someone Mentor Like Know Reached Looks Ballet Did African-American Wanting Anything Young Girl Which Really Who Connect Her

Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself. Misty Copeland

Time Myself Dance Every Every Time Prove Trying

Ballet found me, I guess you could say. 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. I would love to choreograph and dance around. Misty Copeland

Life Love Teacher Me You Training School Dance Guess Danced Say Would Inside Seeing Something Could Never Had Around Always Ballet Discovered Any Middle Middle School Exposed Whole Choreograph Found

To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold. Misty Copeland

You Think Everyone Empathetic Powerful Powerful Thing Around Hold Thing

What you put into your body is just as important as how hard you dance. I believe with the right training and an understanding of how to take care of your body, you can mold it to be whatever you want it to be. Misty Copeland

Most ballerinas take their first ballet class when they are 5 or 6 years old. I was 13 when I took mine on the basketball court of the San Pedro Boys & Girls Club in California. Misty Copeland

Class Old Girl First Club Took Mine Take Most California Court Boy Ballet Years San Basketball Basketball Court

That something that I fought so hard for throughout the beginning of my career is I didn't want to pancake my skin a lighter color to fit into the... ballet. I wanted to be myself. I didn't want to have to wear makeup that made my nose look thinner. Misty Copeland

Whenever there was chaos in my house, whether it was arguing, being in a cramped space with all of us kids and screaming, I found an empty space where I could just put music on and move. Misty Copeland

Music Space Empty Space Chaos Kids Could Arguing Put House Empty Move Just Screaming Whenever Being Where Whether Us Found

I've gotten nothing but warmth from the Black community and positive feedback. Misty Copeland

Positive Feedback Black Nothing Community Positive Feedback Black Community Gotten Warmth

I didn't want to be the best at anything; I just wanted to blend in. And that was kind of my existence throughout my family experiences at home of just kind of blending in in the background through my other siblings, which was easy to do. Misty Copeland

Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character - the perseverance is incredible. It takes a lot to make it through and keep the same energy throughout the entire performance. Misty Copeland

Character You Perseverance Become Energy Changing Incredible Once Entire Through Throughout Lead Takes Performance Like Make Ballet Lot Get Same Lake Swan Professional Keep Acts Four

'The Firebird' just symbolizes a lot for me and my career. It was one of the first really big principal roles that I was ever given an opportunity to dance with American Ballet Theatre, and it was a huge step for the African-American community, I think, within the classical ballet world. Misty Copeland

Me Theatre World Opportunity Dance First Big Community Think Classical Given Step Principal Within Ballet Lot Huge Roles American Just African-American African-American Community Really Ever Career

Barack Obama being President of the United States doesn't mean racism has disappeared. It's all a process, and we have to be aware that the work never ends. Misty Copeland

Work Racism President States Obama Never Disappeared Being Ends Process Barack Barack Obama Mean United Aware United States

My family didn't have very much money, so ballet wasn't even on my radar; I just found it randomly when I was 13 at a Boys & Girls Club. We were practicing in a basketball court in gym clothes with some old socks on. Even though it terrified me at first, I found that I really liked it. Misty Copeland

Family Me Money Old Girl First Clothes Club Randomly Though Some Gym Liked Terrified Court Practicing Boy Ballet Were Very Just Much Really Radar Even Found Socks Basketball Basketball Court

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