How Misty Copeland Is Changing the World
graphic by tanner hogan
Whether you grew up beside the ballet barre or not, you should know who Misty Copeland is. It is no question that the American Ballet Theatre principal dancer embodies elegance and grace through her craft, but this week, she showed us what true beauty looks like off stage.
Copeland joined the Syracuse University community, via Zoom, as a guest speaker on Tuesday, Feb. 23 as part of the 20th season of University Lectures. All we have to say is: wow. The discussion, moderated by performer and SU alumna, Shanel Bailey, left us feeling nothing short of empowered, inspired, and ready to dance to our own rhythms.
While the event began with a lighthearted exchange about TikTok (or in Misty’s case, her lack thereof), it quickly transitioned into a powerful discussion covering topics of representation, purpose, and change.
In case your eyes have yet to be graced by Copeland’s dancing or you haven’t had the chance to hear her eloquently speak, let us start by giving you a little background. Misty Copeland is essentially the woman who single handedly changed the ballet scene for the better. She helped Black ballerinas see themselves on stage at Lincoln Center and taught women everywhere that they can. As the first Black ballerina to be promoted to principal dancer (aka prima ballerina, aka a really big deal) of the American Ballet Theatre, Copeland broke 75+ years worth of boundaries and continues to use her art form to institute change.
On Tuesday, Copeland recounted how her love of dance began at the age of three and served as an escape from her difficult childhood. Through dance, she said, she learned to trust in herself, her value and her purpose, later giving her the hope necessary to completely change the ballet world. Copeland said that her responsibility now, is to take advantage of her opportunity to speak about the issues that exist in this world for Black and brown people.
“What I can bring through my art form and my platform is honesty—if you aren’t honest, and if you don’t make people uncomfortable with reality, we can never make change,” Copeland said.
The principal dancer shared the importance of representation, describing how empowered she felt when she first saw Mariah Carey being celebrated by the media, as a biracial woman. Today, Copeland hopes that her position leaves young people feeling just as included and powerful. She is using this time in her career—when she is being seen and heard—to educate individuals and leave a true impact on society.
When asked what celebrating Black history looks like to her, Copeland shared that she is constantly thinking about it, especially because of the world she exists in. She shared that the people who got her here, their legacy, and how she carries it with her, mean everything to her. The principal dancer is currently working on a book, “Black Ballerinas,” and she started her own production company to serve as an authentic voice for dancers in the ballet community. Copeland shared that if Black dancers aren’t included in history books, she will write her own. And writing history, she is!
Among countless additional pieces of beautiful, passionate advice, Copeland pushed the sentiment of never denying a piece of yourself, or trying to be someone you are not, but rather, recognizing your purpose and committing to it.
“No one hired you because of what you aren’t, but what you are,” Copeland said (this one will definitely stick with us).
Copeland concluded her discussion by stressing the importance of art of all forms—something we, at Jerk, can definitely agree with:
“Art reaches places within ourselves that nothing else can, whether it is allowing you to access your cognitive skills or a way to bring people together, to grieve, celebrate, love, laugh, hate, express the most human expressions, and feelings, and emotions—it’s what every person in every culture at every age does. It should be at the forefront of education because it is so necessary for the human experience,” Copeland said.
“That was a lot of words,” Copeland laughed, but we somehow still couldn’t get enough of what she had to say.