Mar 8, 2024
World famous ballerina Misty Copeland has an incredible story to share. When she discovered ballet at the age of 13 she was living in motel rooms and struggling to find a place to sleep on the floor between her five siblings. Thanks to a ballet class offered at the Boys and Girls Club and a mentor that took special interest in her abilities, Misty was on pointe shoes within three months of starting classes. A true prodigy, she began performing professionally less than a year after that.
Misty’s mentor and teacher from the Boys and Girls Club invited her to live in her home so that she could provide the stability Misty needed to focus all of her time and energy on ballet. From there Misty continued to excel in every aspect of the ballet world.
On June 30, 2015, she became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in American Ballet Theater's 75-year history. Since that time she has used her voice to promote inclusion and diversity in ballet through her foundation. You are going to love hearing from Misty.
Time codes:
00:50 Photos of her son Jackson that have a fun backstory
13:30 Support your kids dreams and listen to them
14:00 How to be a hands on parent and nurture your kids interests
15:00 If Misty will have her little boy do ballet
17:30 The importance of representation in ballet and the steps Misty has taken through her foundation and philanthropy to make that happen
19:50 Why Misty is hopeful for the future of diversity and inclusion in the dance world
21:30 How to help move diversity and inclusion forward wherever you are
26:25 Misty’s ultimate mom hack secret
28:00 The role journaling has and still does play a part in Misty’s life
29:30 Creating a Chatbook of her little family and sending it to relatives as a surprise
31:15 Misty on growing her family and writing her next children’s book, Bunheads 2
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