Misty Copeland

where I felt like I needed to fully be who I am and not bend and twist to fit what I thought they wanted or what I'm seeing in front of me, which I will never be able to be that because I'm not a white woman and I don't fit into this idealized mold of what a ballerina is supposed to be.

And so my relationship with the company, with my artistic director, with the dancers in the company completely has evolved through that time. But it took a lot of patience.

And so my relationship with the company, with my artistic director, with the dancers in the company completely has evolved through that time. But it took a lot of patience.

Yeah, you know, I go with my instinct a lot. And during the pandemic, George Floyd, it felt like the time to speak up and, you know, shine a light on the injustice that so many have felt for so long and give a really clear, like, you know, perspective and example. And I think that we're in a place now where it's so muddy and

Yeah, you know, I go with my instinct a lot. And during the pandemic, George Floyd, it felt like the time to speak up and, you know, shine a light on the injustice that so many have felt for so long and give a really clear, like, you know, perspective and example. And I think that we're in a place now where it's so muddy and

And I think that, I mean, I don't want to say that, yes, like, you know, we're trying to stay away from backlash, but it's like, You lose focus on what the work really is when there's all this other outside noise around it, rather than, like I said, you know, you're putting your head down and you're doing work.

And I think that, I mean, I don't want to say that, yes, like, you know, we're trying to stay away from backlash, but it's like, You lose focus on what the work really is when there's all this other outside noise around it, rather than, like I said, you know, you're putting your head down and you're doing work.

Like I'm in these communities and I'm having these conversations and I'm, you know, creating programs that will go beyond this, you know, this administration. And that to me is what's important is that we keep consistent and doing the work and

Like I'm in these communities and I'm having these conversations and I'm, you know, creating programs that will go beyond this, you know, this administration. And that to me is what's important is that we keep consistent and doing the work and

in a way that, you know, is not going to, I guess, ruffle any feathers and have focus on us where there's funding taken away, where, you know, it's really complicated.

in a way that, you know, is not going to, I guess, ruffle any feathers and have focus on us where there's funding taken away, where, you know, it's really complicated.

And I think that this is bigger than... the language that we're using. This is not something that has just come about post-George Floyd or because of this administration. This is work that I've been doing since I started ballet. It's work that's undeniable when you are a minority. That, you know, it just is what it is and you're doing it. So again, this isn't something new.

And I think that this is bigger than... the language that we're using. This is not something that has just come about post-George Floyd or because of this administration. This is work that I've been doing since I started ballet. It's work that's undeniable when you are a minority. That, you know, it just is what it is and you're doing it. So again, this isn't something new.

This isn't some trend that we're on. It's real important work that's affecting real lives every day.

This isn't some trend that we're on. It's real important work that's affecting real lives every day.

Yes. Through our Be Bold program, through the Misty Copeland Foundation, we're in the Bronx and we're in Harlem. And a lot of these people with this administration and post the pandemic pulled their children out of schools for fear of a lot of things, you know, not having citizenship or whatever it is, you know, that they, the fear of ICE, you know, but this is like the one thing.

Yes. Through our Be Bold program, through the Misty Copeland Foundation, we're in the Bronx and we're in Harlem. And a lot of these people with this administration and post the pandemic pulled their children out of schools for fear of a lot of things, you know, not having citizenship or whatever it is, you know, that they, the fear of ICE, you know, but this is like the one thing.

community social outlet that they have. So I guess it is different in a way that like we're having those real conversations like, am I safe to come in and take this class? But this is it. This is all I have. This is like a lifeline. And it's also a beautiful escape and it's healing. And it's just so important and necessary for our society, for our communities.

community social outlet that they have. So I guess it is different in a way that like we're having those real conversations like, am I safe to come in and take this class? But this is it. This is all I have. This is like a lifeline. And it's also a beautiful escape and it's healing. And it's just so important and necessary for our society, for our communities.

It is so frustrating. I'm constantly having these conversations with my producing partner, with my team, through my production company, as we're constantly trying to prove that dance is such an integral part of every culture and that for some reason it's not valued in the same way that music is or fashion is or food is.