Misty Copeland on The Art of Resilience — Lessons from a Barrier-Breaking Ballet Dancer

Misty Copeland (0:01)

Is Misty deserving of being promoted to principal dancer? Will she only be promoted because she's black? Does she really have the body? Does she have the technique? I physically shut down and couldn't perform. Don't let other people's words define you. There's so much power in being yourself.

Michael Gervais (0:19)

If there was a word that you understand the most, what is that word?

Misty Copeland (0:22)

Fight.

Michael Gervais (0:28)

Welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Michael Gervais, by trade in training a high-performance psychologist. Today, we've got something really special for you. We were in New York City recently and got the chance to sit down with a real trailblazer, a person who is really, really special. She's a boundary breaker and she did it in the world of ballet first. The legendary Misty Copeland. Misty's journey from living in motel rooms to becoming the first African-American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre is nothing short of inspiring. Misty started ballet at the late age of 13 and rose to perform lead roles in iconic productions like Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. During her meteoric rise, she was also featured on the covers of Time, Essence, and Women's Health. Misty didn't just enter the ballet world. She transformed it. And I do not say that lightly, merging classical finesse with her powerful narrative. She has not only shattered ceilings, but she's also redefined what safety and success looks like in the arts.

That is a radical statement. So many of us needed that at some age in our lives, and she's doing it in such a radically graceful way. Misty's influence extends well beyond dance, collaborating with artists like Taylor Swift, Camila Cabello, her, and authoring several New York Times bestsellers. Her work through the Misty Copeland Foundation continues to inspire a new generation to embrace ballet and find their voice in the arts.

In today's episode, Misty will share insights into the pivotal experiences that shaped her, her approach to handling the pressures of her field, and how she crafts her breathtaking performances that tell stories which resonate with so many of us. So without further ado, let's dive into this deeply inspiring conversation with the legend, Misty Copeland.

Misty, this is such an honor to have this conversation with you, and we're here in New York City, there's a, you know, the city is alive, and you've been here for a long time making a difference in the world of artistry and creativity, using ballet as your medium, and I just, I can't wait to better understand, like, how you work from the inside out.

Misty Copeland (3:00)

Thank you, I'm excited.

Michael Gervais (3:03)

So it's an honor to sit and have this conversation. Thank you.

Misty Copeland (3:06)

It's a long time coming. It's an honor to sit here with you as well.

Michael Gervais (3:11)

Thank you for the blurb that you gave on the First World Mastery for the book, and like, it was so special to feel your words and the contribution you made is meaningful. Let's start at the beginning.

Before the age of 13, can you explain what it was like growing up and what it was like in your home? Let's start there.

Misty Copeland (3:37)

So I'm the fourth child from my parents. I was born in Kansas City, Missouri. I don't remember much. We left Kansas when I was just two years old, but I know that my father played basketball. He was very athletic. My mom was super athletic and into sports. She was a professional cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs, so it was like a crazy sports family household.

So my mom ended up divorcing my father, and she took me and my siblings to Los Angeles. So I was just two years old. So from that moment, that was how my life would be. It would be picking up, moving, instability, not really having a stable home. I would say probably until the age of maybe eight was the first time we lived in a house.

So my mother would marry two more times and add two more children into the family. So I'm a middle child, and I'm already naturally introverted. And so the circumstances I grew up in definitely shaped me even more. I could easily hide between my siblings, who were all very loud and want to be the center of attention. I was the opposite. I just wanted to just exist. And I was just in survival mode and didn't want to be seen or heard. And music became this kind of saving grace for me. Music almost, you know, I would sit, I remember, I remember, you know, with cassette tapes and you pull out the jacket or whatever and you could read the lyrics.