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Misty Copeland – Changing Ideas of How a Perfect Dancer Should Look

April 22, 2015 By Deb Chitwood 2 Comments

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I love the story of Misty Copeland. Misty defies the stereotypes of the perfect ballerina.

Misty Copeland - Changing Ideas of How a Perfect Dancer Should Look

 

Misty Copeland is a great example for girls who are interested in ballet. She used perseverance to overcome obstacles in a dance style that wouldn’t traditionally have been a natural fit for her.

For one thing, Misty lived in poverty and started taking ballet classes at age 13 at a Boys and Girls Club. Then she had to come to terms with a body that’s curvier and more muscular than most ballerinas. Also, Misty is African American.

I love that Misty Copeland has changed many people’s ideas of how a perfect dancer should look. She’s now a soloist in the prestigious American Ballet Theater.

Here’s an inspiring Under Armour ad with Misty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY0cdXr_1MA

Here’s a video with more about Misty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egkVCARjFGQ

If you’d like more Misty Copeland inspiration, check out these articles:

  • If Misty Copeland’s Body Is “Wrong,” I Don’t Want to Be Right at XX Factor
  • Ballet Star Misty Copeland Talks Overcoming Racism and Body Shaming on Her Way to the Top at TeenVogue
  • Misty Copeland’s Perseverance at The Washington Post
  • Misty Copeland on Ballet, Beauty & Standing Out at Yahoo Style
  • Stretching beauty: Ballerina Misty Copeland on her body struggles at Fox News

Misty also has two books, one for adults and one for children: *Amazon affiliate*

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

Firebird

For more about body image, you’ll find lots of body image resources here: Body Image Resources.

I have lots of quotes and word-art inspiration at the Bits of Positivity Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Photo Credit: “From the ballet Coppelia cropped” by Gilda N. Squire Gildasquire – Extracted from File:From the ballet Coppelia.jpg. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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Previous article: Looking Younger with Natural Skin Care and Cosmetics in the Year I Turn 60
Next article: Take a Stand Against Body Shaming and Cyberbullying

Filed Under: Inspiration, Motivation Tagged With: ballet, body image, dance, Inspiration, Misty Copeland, perseverance

Previous Post: « Looking Younger with Natural Skin Care and Cosmetics in the Year I Turn 60
Next Post: Take a Stand Against Body Shaming and Cyberbullying »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jacquie says

    April 25, 2015 at 8:19 am

    My daughter takes ballet (has since she was 3) and does not have the typical ‘ballet build’ if you would — but to her, she is a ballerina! Her school is wonderful about not caring about their body shape (as long as their hair is pulled up and they are standing straight, that’s what they focus on). This is so inspirational — especially since Misty began at age 13 — what an accomplishment for her!

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      April 26, 2015 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks for your comment, Jacquie! I love hearing about ballet schools like your daughter’s. Ballet is so beautiful and can be such a healthy activity. It makes me sad when ballet schools makes kids feel worse about their bodies. It’s definitely impressive that Misty was able to move beyond the limitations that people were trying to put on her.

      Reply

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