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Not Just Arabesques: Misty Copeland Imparts Life Lessons

Associated Press

   NEW YORK - No other ballet dancer has crossed over into mainstream
   popular culture quite like Misty Copeland.

   That was Copeland at the recent American Music Awards, dancing a
   passionate duet with partner Craig Hall as Taylor Swift sat at the
   piano singing her hit "Lover."

   She's also working on a new silent film with her production company,
   focusing on homelessness in California. And a Hollywood biopic is in
   the early stages.

   Now Copeland, who leaped to fame in 2015 as the first black female
   principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, is the latest celebrity to
   host an online MasterClass, alongside Anna Wintour, Aaron Sorkin, Annie
   Leibovitz, Ron Howard, Natalie Portman and others.

   Copeland sat down with The Associated Press recently to talk about the
   new series and to look back at her career, including the time spent
   with one of her favorite mentors: the late rock star Prince, whom she
   credits with teaching her to embrace her uniqueness rather than worry
   about blending in. The interview has been condensed for length.

   AP: Your class is primarily about ballet technique. But what else do
   you hope to teach?

   Copeland: A lot of people don't typically look at ballet dancers as
   athletes, and we are. And so those components, you know, your mental
   health, your confidence, understanding and being able to use your life
   experiences to be an artist. All of those ... elements are just as
   important as the technique that we learn since we were children. You
   know, dancers aren't just up there twirling around. It looks so
   effortless, because we work at it for so long to make it look that way.
   But on top of it, you have to be an incredible actress. You have to
   have an understanding of adapting in the moment ... you have to be very
   self-aware, present, vulnerable, all these things. And so it was just
   as important for me to speak about my life, my background, the
   obstacles that I've had.

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