Black History Month Spotlight: Misty Copeland, Prima Ballerina
By Alisa Oden
2/19/2021
In honor of Black History Month, Glasgow students celebrate people who have impacted the world in which we live. Spotlight #8 is Misty Copeland.
Misty Copeland is an American ballet dancer for the American Ballet Theater (ABT). She didn’t start dancing until 13- which, in ballet, is considered a late start- but with talent and hard work, she quickly rose to stardom. In 2015, she became the first African American woman to become a principal dancer (the highest level a ballet dancer can reach) at the ABT.
Misty Copeland continues to inspire people as a public speaker and performer. She encourages young dancers to work hard and pursue their passions even though there may be bumps in the road. Her story shows aspiring dancers at Glasgow that they can do anything they put their mind to, and become anything they want to be. Her dedication and love for what she does is truly inspiring to young black dancers at GMS especially. Whether you dance or not, Misty Copeland’s passion is infectious. It makes you wonder, “What is something I love to do, and how can I do it better?”
Here is one of her amazing performances:
Misty Copeland Dances Romeo + Juliet, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux & White Swan at Vail Dance 2015
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Alisa Oden (she/her) is an 8th grader at Glasgow Middle School. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but has lived in Virginia for most of her life. She enjoys dancing, singing, theater, and playing the violin. Some of her hobbies include sewing and baking, but one of her favorite things to do is paint. She is very passionate about engineering and STEM. This is her third year writing for the Panther Post.
