Copeland

She’s just a girl who had won over 14 champion medals. Who is that you are probably wondering. Well “that girl” is Simone Biles. Biles won over 10 gold medals in the sport of gymnastics. Some people say that simone can do tumbling passes on the balance beam that some olympians can’t even do on floor. Some say that is true some say that is false.

The KKK chased her out and threatened her. Everyone tried to make her blend in so that she didn’t make the dance look bad. When people think of an African American dancer they have this stereotypical picture in their head of what they think all African Americans look like. “You lack the right feet, Achilles tendon, turnout, torso length, and bust for ballet” (“Misty Copeland Seeks to Inspire”). That was what she heard from a dance critique before they met Copeland. In ballet you dance together and you typically are supposed to look the same and dance the same. Being the only colored person makes you the one that sticks out and that isn’t the same and people back then didn’t think that was ok. “And it’s hard to be the one that stands out when you know in a ballet company you’re trying to create unison” (“Misty Copeland”). That was a direct quote that she said about herself.

The first experience of watching a ballet, for me or any little girl, can be fascinating and exhilarating. Wondering how a dancer can be so steady on her toes as she spins in circles and leaps through the air. Watching a ballet, there is a feeling of wanting to be graceful, as well as the warm sensation felt by a little girl as she slips into dream land. My mom had taken me to my first ballet when I was 11 years old. When we returned home home, she signed me up for classes at the local dance center. The expectations to become a prima ballerina would involve much hard work and concentration. I knew when I started it would take years of steady practice and commitment. Learning the history of ballet and the famous

The book I chose for my book report was Life in Motion by Misty Copeland. She wrote this memoir to tell the story of all the struggles she had in her large family and in the ballet world. Misty Copeland is an African American ballerina that started dancing at a much later age than most dancers. In the ballet world most companies have had a specific body type for ballerinas. Because Copeland is African American and has a different body type, she has faced discrimination from many companies throughout her life.

In an interview for ‘Elle’ magazine, Misty Copeland, a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre expressed her struggles with body image issues as a ballerina and how she believed it was society as a whole and not just

Have you ever thought what it would be like to be dancing up on your toes with the American Ballet theatre (ABT)? That’s just what happened, Misty Copeland currently a principal dancer at ABT had a dream to dance there ever since she started to dance and she didn't think that she could do it,but with training, hard work, and passion you can achieve anything. For the month of September I decided to read “Life in Motion” written by Misty Copeland. This book was very inspiring in many ways. I learned so much that I didn’t know, not only about Misty Copeland but also about ballet. I decided to read this book because, Misty Copeland is one of my idols, she is also a big inspiration and I really wanted to learn more about her. Overall this book was amazing. I would recommend it to  not only ballet dancers but to also people who love non-fiction because it is full of so many details and a lot of imagery that it makes a person feel like they are in her shoes dancing through her life. I would recommend this book because many people can relate to Misty Copeland in many ways, your mind wanders while reading, and because the plot was very unbelievable and surprising.

Prince wanted her to be in her music video so she was in a music video with the one and only Prince! She also went on tour with Prince. Misty has become a role model to many others and has some role models herself. Her life changing role model was Raven Wilkinson. She has influenced a lot of young dancers. “A lot of people look up to Misty like Ciyanna Rogers.” -Taylor (New York Times).Misty has achieved many goals. She found her picture on a huge building. L.A Times praised her performance as the Firebird. She was inducted into the Boys and Girls Club hall of fame. She worked with Under Armour in 2014 and she made a perfume that has been sold everywhere. Misty has had uncountable goals and she is still achieving them every

The light shine down and the music surrounds her as she dance into the air and across the stage. The audience yells and clap for her as the curtain close. It’s the end of another work week for Jane Onwuegbuchu. Jane comes from a very huge family of 8, where it’s very hard for her to be at the center of attention, especially being the 5th child. Jane was born in Houston, Texas on June 22, 1987 to Rosaline and James Onwuegbuchu. She started dancing at the young age of 3 with Elite dancers and fell in love with dancing since then. “Growing up as a child, Jane was a very good child, she loved dancing and just seeing her dance melt my heart. She was a part of a lot of dance organization, church, youth dance team etc… You name it and she was there,”

Misty Copeland is a significant person in dance history because her confidence, independence, and perseverance have enabled her to break the color barrier in ballet, inspire young dancers by her troubled childhood, and make a comeback to save her

People can now be a talented dancer just like her by going to her dance studio and learning how to dance. People will give her credibility for teaching them how to dance.This gave her a historical credibility because when she died her dance studio will still be there and people will still going then as well. Also a dancer names Clarence Bradley went to her dance studio to start dancing and had a stage debut.People are going to her dance studio and are becoming icon and getter dancer like herself and Clarence Bradley. So no matter if she is still alive or not she will still be known as a dancing and having a dance studio that everyone goes

One of the many reasons Misty Copeland inspires me is how she doesn’t let anything knock her down. Being a dancer is hard, you see all the “perfect ballerinas” and it can really bring peoples self-esteem down. Dancers start to second guess even if they should dance, but Misty Copeland didn’t compare herself to anyone else on the dance floor. It wasn’t just her dance life that inspires me, her home life when she was younger is a big impact in many as well. Misty grew up with six siblings, her mom had several boyfriends and husbands, with her family constantly moving. At one point she was in a one room apartment with her family. After all of this happing to her she continued to carry on her personal life as Misty Copeland and broke all the barriers that tried to stop her. Instead of having her emotions take over and breaking her happiness, she continues life and that is one of the reasons why she inspires me.

“Go within everyday and find the inner strength so that the world will not blow your candle out” (A Quote by Katherine Dunham 1). Once one of the most successful dancers in both American and European theater, Katherine Dunham, a dancer, anthropologist,social activist,and educator, continues to inspire people throughout the world. Named America’s irreplaceable Dance Treasure in 2000. Dunham remains a name heard regularly in dance schools across the world (“Katherine Dunham Biography” 4). She is known for always trying to make a difference and in the process she has become of the world’s greatest humanitarians (Osumare 5). Katherine Dunham’s work in African American rights in the dance world and her creation of new styles of dance makes her an important figure in American dance History.

Misty copeland was born on september ,10 ,1982 in Kansas city Missouri. Misty was the 4th child out of 6 children.copeland’s Mother Delacerna,was married multiple times and have many boyfriends. The family of 7 moved plenty of times under trouble conditions.The family finally settled down in San Pedro,California.Delacerna 4th husband was very violent. He physically and emotionally abused his wife,and stepchildren,using racial words and slurs.After Delacerna left the 4th husband, Delacerna and her 6 children moved into a motel.Copeland joined the boys and girls club ballet team.When Misty was only 13 she moved in with Bradly(her dance teacher),to be closer to the dance studio.Later on when misty was only 15 years old, Delacerna said that it

Misty’s hard work and dedication got her to where she is now. She never gave up on herself even when life hit her hard in the face. “Over the past year, whenever Ms. Copeland, 32, danced leading roles with Ballet Theater…” Misty played many roles

Ever since I was younger I have always wanted to be a professional ballerina, or any type of professional dancer. Growing up, I have always looked up to my dance teachers. Although they aren’t professionals, they appear just as good to me. Most dancers, from ballet to hiphop, dream of being a professional some day.