Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

Determination meets dance in this memoir by the history-making ballerina. In this instant New York Times bestseller, Misty Copeland makes history, telling the story of her journey to become the first African-American principal ballerina at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. But when she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, underprivileged, and anxious thirteen-year-old to become one of America’s most groundbreaking dancers . A true prodigy, she was attempting in months roles that take most dancers years to master...


Misty Danielle Copeland (born September 10, 1982) is an American ballet dancer for American Ballet Theatre (ABT), one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States. Stylistically, she is considered a classical ballet dancer. In April 2015, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time. On June 30, 2015, Copeland became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT's 75-year history. WIKIPEDIA VIDEO: Anthony Mason visits with Misty Copeland, the breakthrough star of the American Ballet Theatre and currently in "The Nutcracker," who says change is coming slowly to the world of classical dance.