Considered a prodigy since she discovered ballet at age 13, Misty Copeland has danced across the world’s stages, performing alongside the Nutcracker Prince and the late musical icon Prince alike, and even hoofing it “On the Town” on Broadway. In 2015, Copeland made history as the first Black woman promoted to principal dancer in the 75-year history of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) — and this fall, the prima ballerina blazed a new trail as she was named theGrio Awards’ 2023 Trailblazer Icon.
As not only a dancer but also an author, producer, and advocate, Copeland has broken barriers that will resonate for generations to come — while also shining a light on those who made her ascension possible. While she has many attributes to celebrate, here are a few reasons we find Misty Copeland so magical.
She believes Black dancers belong anywhere they want to be
“Throughout my career, like so many other Black dancers, people have wanted to push me toward modern dance, which is considered freer, wilder and therefore more suitable to someone of my heritage,” Copeland wrote in her most recent book. “Yet my dream was ballet from my first class at 13, wearing gym shorts on a basketball court at the Boys and Girls Club of San Pedro.”
“It’s no one’s place to tell me where I should dance, where I can succeed,” Copeland further explained on theGrio’s literary podcast, “Writing Black,” “I knew that I wanted to dance for ABT because of the repertoire; because I grew up looking at these dancers. And that was what I felt my position was — where I should be. And also, in order to really make real change in those spaces, I felt like I needed to be there. Whether it was going to happen for me or not, my presence there was going to make an impact for so many Black and brown people who were coming to see me,” she added.
She generously shares the spotlight
While Copeland has been…
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