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10 Amazing Facts About Misty Copeland

In three words ballerina Misty Copeland is elegant, determined, and courageous. She uses the same words to describe her role model Anne Raven Wilkinson.

Moreover, Raven broke the color barrier by signing a contract with a major classical ballet company in 1955. This brought her acclaim as the first African-American woman to do so. Copeland also made a world record in 2015 when she became the first African-American female principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre (ABT).

What鈥檚 more, she is famed for the 2014 Dance Magazine Award, and a 2015 feature on Time magazine’s top 100 ranking. Furthermore, her acclaim also stems from her best-selling memoir Life in Motion and books like Firebird (a children鈥檚 book) and Ballerina Body. Copeland is a perfect description of her quote, 鈥�Start unknown, finish unforgettable鈥�. Get insights into her life and career below.

Here are the 10 Amazing Facts About Misty Copeland.

1. Copeland credits California for her growing up

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This ballet dancer鈥檚 birth location is Kansas City in Missouri where she was born on September 10, 1982. She shares a German and African American ancestry from her father Doug Copeland. Her mother Sylvia DelaCerna also has a mixed heritage of Italian and African American descent.

Additionally, her family moved to California when she was under 10 years. First settled in California鈥檚 Bellflower and later in San Pedro where she credits most of her growing up.

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2. Misty Copeland was introduced to ballet training a little late

It wasn鈥檛 until she was 13 years when she started ballet training. According to observers, such age is considered late to venture into ballet practices. She started her training at the San Pedro Dance Center.

3. At fifteen she was already winning awards

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Starting ballet training late than expected in the profession did not deter Copeland. Her dedication pushed her to excel in the art and about two years into her training, she won awards in several competitions.

To add on, some of the contests she took part in are the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards. She emerged top in the event鈥檚 competitions held in March 1998. The young dancer was 15 years old at the time.

4. ABT was Misty Copeland鈥檚 career game changer

She started her journey in September 2000 at the ABT Studio Company. Less than a year later in April 2001, she joined the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). While on ABT she joined the corps de ballet where she was a member.

Moreover, she was promoted to a soloist role in August 2007. She honed her skill in dance evolving into an advanced contemporary and sophisticated ballet dancer.

Subsequently, she was appointed to the duty of principal dancer making a historical record in August 2015.  This appointment made her the first African American woman to rise to the position of principal dancer in the history of American Ballet Theatre.

5. Copeland has worked with the world鈥檚 leading brands

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She has endorsed products of top companies like the wireless network operator, T-Mobile. Also the luxury fashion multinational Coach, Inc. (now Tapestry, Inc. since 2017) and the carbonated soft drink Dr Pepper.

On top of that, she has engaged with the Japanese watch and electronics manufacturer, Seiko. Also, the multinational food product French franchise, The Dannon Company. Part of the list is also the sportswear label Under Armour.

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6. Ballerina Misty has been featured on top magazine covers

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She appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 2015. It was one of the magazine鈥檚 rare covers of dance figures. It came after a 1994 cover of another dance figure, choreographer Bill T. Jones.

To add on, other dance personalities who enjoyed the privilege of Time covers include ballet coach Gelsey Kirkland in 1978. The ballet dancers Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1975 and Rudolf Nureyev in 1965 also received the honor. As well as ballerina Margot Fonteyn in 1949.

Copeland also earned a cover in Essence magazine in 2015 in appreciation of her efforts. She was featured on Pointe magazine鈥檚 cover in 2002.

7. She doubles as an author

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Misty Copeland has written several books mostly on the topic of ballet dancing. Her books include Firebird published in 2014 which talks about a girl with fragile confidence and doubting her confidence to reach great heights.

To boot, she released the title Bunheads in 2020, Black Ballerinas in 2021, and The Wind at My Back in 2022. The latter two are autobiographical books that detail her journey as a professional ballet dancer.

Another title is Your Life in Motion which was published in 2018. It is a guide to ballet dancing. Her other books that serve as inspiration for aspiring ballet dancers are Ballerina Body (2017) and Life in Motion (2014, 2016). She has also narrated her ups and downs in a documentary called A Ballerina’s Tale.

8. She is a supporter of diversity in ballet

Copeland is outspoken on the challenges that limit access to ballet training for people of color. Hence her book titled Black Ballerinas.

Besides addressing the issue in the form of literature she has a program dubbed 鈥淏e Bold initiative鈥�. The program aims at making ballet accessible, affordable, and fun for children. The participants learn the basics of ballet, they are informed about music and health and they receive tutoring and mentorship.

9. Misty Copeland is a champion for body positivity

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In her book Ballerina Body, she motivates her audience to develop dance and eating balance to achieve lean, strong, and graceful bodies. A model especially for those interested in building a professional career in ballet.

What鈥檚 more, she experienced body criticism at some point in her career. Some critics expressed concerns about her body type claiming she was too “bulky” to fit in as a ballerina. Through determination, she broke barriers that proved her critics wrong.

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10. Her versatility has seen her appear in music videos

Copeland has appeared in music videos for acclaimed singers like Prince Rogers Nelson and Taylor Swift. Through video appearances, she has proved her strength in different spheres.

Misty Copeland has brought down barriers and made world records in the space of ballet dancing. She prides herself in a 2014 Dance Magazine Award. She was also listed in Time magazine鈥檚 100 most influential people in the world 2015 ranking. For all her achievements, she has lived up to one of her famous quotes, “All you can do is be your best self”.