This June Misty Copeland was promoted to the rank of
principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. She is the first female African
American to ever reach this level at American Ballet Theatre. African American
ballerinas are not commonly showcased in the ballet world. Some critics have
said that she has the wrong body for ballet or that she doesn’t belong in the
ballet world. Copeland did not let these negative comments stop her from
pursuing her dream though.
Accomplishing her dream was not easy. She began ballet pretty late, at the age of thirteen. Her mom did not have a car and worked twelve to fourteen hours a day. Therefore, her ballet teacher had to pick her up from school and drive her to the ballet studio. Copeland’s mother moved away shortly after she began ballet. In order to enable Copeland to continue to study ballet she moved in with her ballet teacher for about three years.
At the end of these years Copeland’s mother decided that Copeland should live with her. Copeland did not want to give up ballet so she filed for emancipation from her mother. Copeland’s mother realized that she was not willing to give up ballet. Therefore, she promised Copeland that she would allow her to study ballet. Copeland dropped her filing for emancipation and began living with her mother. Now Copeland would only be able to study ballet after school again.
Copeland continued studying ballet and graduated high school. In 2000 she joined American Ballet Theatre’s studio company. Copeland had a difficult journey to joining the American Ballet Theatre. Ballet almost came between her relationship with her mother. Copeland continued pursuing her dream and persevered through every obstacle.
Today Copeland is a role model for African Americans entering ballet. She is a graceful dancer and makes ballet look effortless. After all of her hard work and dedication, I am happy that Copeland has been promoted to the rank that she deserves.
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