A Ballerina Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Future Generations Through Dance and Education
Exposure to the arts has the transformative power of uniting people from all backgrounds and circumstances. No greater example of this than Misty Copeland. One of six children raised by a single mother in San Pedro, California, she took her first ballet class at 13. Instantly, she felt a purpose of belonging. She nurtured this connection and would become the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, one of the world’s leading classical ballet companies. She has performed worldwide, appearing in commercials and Disney feature films and collaborating with artists like Prince and Elton John.
From her humble beginnings, she has broken barriers in the arts and performed on some of the world’s biggest stages. She now uses her voice to inspire people to pursue their passions and has become a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion in ballet, inspiring underrepresented communities to pursue the art form.
She was recently invited to the Achievement First Summit as its keynote speaker, which is celebrating 25 years since its founding. Achievement First is a network of non-profit, high-performing K-12 public charter schools in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. Its focus is on providing a rigorous, college-preparatory education to all students, regardless of race or economic status, to ensure that all children have access to a great education.
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In front of a packed room inside the Omni Hotel in New Haven, ballerina Misty Copeland shared her story of resilience. “It is a beautiful thing to be a part and to be in a room with people that care and to see the young people, the benefits of the work that is being done,” Copeland remarked. “It’s always showing the importance of representation and that I think of art and dance as a tool that is transferable that you can take and expand into whatever it is you want to do with."
After her inspiring speech, the young dancers met with her for a Q&A session.
Achievement First CEO Lisa Margosian said Copeland’s message aligned with the school system’s mission.
“Our schools are about access, it is about creating doors, open pathways, exposing children to things they ordinarily wouldn’t be exposed to,” Margosian said.
Named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2015, Copeland is also the author of several books, including her memoir “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina” (2014) and “Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy” (2021), which highlight her journey and celebrate other Black dancers. She has also founded Project Plié to provide opportunities for young dancers from diverse backgrounds.
Unlock your event’s potential by introducing Misty Copeland as your keynote speaker! Don’t miss the opportunity to inspire your audience—Contact Speaker Booking Agency today for more information, or fill out our Online Booking Request Form. Let us leverage our 25 years of industry-leading experience to secure the perfect talent for your next event!
