Misty Copeland
In the world of classical ballet, dancers, especially women, are often expected to embody fragility, grace, and silence. The art form has long been viewed through a lens of tradition that equates femininity with delicacy, which overlooks the physical power dance requires. Misty Copeland challenges and redefines this image, proving that a ballerina can be both unapologetically strong and deeply artistic.
Copeland made history in 2015 when she became the first African American female principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Her rise was anything but conventional. She began formal ballet training at the age of thirteen, an age many consider too late in the rigid timeline of classical dance. Despite this, she advanced rapidly, fueled by natural athleticism, mental resilience, and extraordinary discipline. Her story alone breaks the stereotype that dancers must begin young to succeed. Even more importantly, it confronts the myth that ballerinas are not strong.
Copeland’s dancing is known not only for its fluidity and grace but also for its visible power. Her movements are grounded, explosive, and muscular, revealing the intense athleticism that ballet demands but often conceals. While traditional ballet idealizes willowy figures, Copeland’s muscular build drew criticism early in her career. Instead of conforming, she leaned into her strength, using it to push the boundaries of performance and to advocate for a more inclusive and realistic image of what a dancer can be.
Beyond her physicality, Copeland has used her platform to speak openly about the racial and body-type biases in ballet, turning her artistry into activism. In doing so, she embodies strength not just in her movement but also in her voice. Her memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina, and her appearance in commercial campaigns like Under Armour’s I Will What I Want serve as powerful reminders that stereotypes do not limit female dancers–they are capable of reshaping them.
Copeland’s influence extends beyond the stage. She has become a symbol of empowerment, particularly for young girls of color, demonstrating that strength, both physical and emotional, is valued in ballet. Her career challenges the narrow view that dancers are passive performers of choreography. She stands as a creator, a leader, and a cultural force.
Misty Copeland is more than a ballerina. She is a movement. Her story dismantles the stereotype that women in dance are weak or purely ornamental. Through her discipline, artistry, and advocacy, she proves that strength and femininity are not opposites but deeply connected. She expands the idea of what it means to be a woman in the humanities. She is powerful, expressive, and entirely her own.
