Joy Keys chats with African American Ballet Dancer Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland joined ABT's Studio Company in September 2000 and then joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2001. In 2007, Misty Copeland made history by becoming the third African American female soloist and first in two decades, at American Ballet Theatre.

Her roles with American Ballet Theatre include: Muse-Duo Concertant, Gulnare-Le Corsaire, Flower Girl-Don Quixote, The Peasant Pas de Deux-Giselle, Lead Harlot-Romeo and Juliet, Fairy of Valor-The Sleeping Beauty, Princess Florine-The Sleeping Beauty, Pas de Trois and a Cygnet-Swan Lake, The Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Sinatra Suite-Twyla Tharpe, workwithinwork-William Forsythe, Overgrown Path-Jiri Kylian, Gong-Mark Morris, Company B, Airs-Paul Taylor, Milkmaid-The Bright Stream, a Principal role created on her in Alexei Ratmansky’s Dumbarton and Misty premiered the title role of The Firebird in the Spring of 2012, featuring new choreography by world renowned in house American Ballet Theatre choreographer Alexi Ratmanski.

In 2008, Misty was honored with the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts. This two year fellowship is awarded to young artists who exhibit extraordinary talent, providing them additional resources in order to attain their full potential.

Misty was honored with induction into the Boys and Girls Club National Hall of Fame in the Spring of 2012.

website: www.mistycopeland.com