By BROOKE LEFFERTS, Associated press
NEW YORK (AP) __ Misty Copeland has her hands (and feet!) in many different
projects simultaneously, but all are motivated by her passion to use her
platform to promote diversity in all the spaces she inhabits.
The first Black woman to be promoted to principal dancer for the American Ballet
Theatre in 2015, Copeland says she never takes that opportunity for granted.
Beyond performing, she says she feels a responsibility to show the importance of
representation, and work on projects that are an extension of who she is as a
dancer.
Her influence has transcended the stage to author, head of her own production
company and charitable foundation, and now co-founder and designer of a new
athletic wear brand, Greatness Wins, that focuses on clothing for women of all
ages and body types.
Copeland also likes to try new things that scare her so she’s taken on the role
of interviewer on a new show called “PBS Arts Talk,” where she recently
interviewed painter Nathaniel Mary Quinn and dancer and choreographer Twlya
Tharp.
Copeland spoke with The Associated Press about her new focus, fighting for more
inclusive emojis, and staying in shape.
Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
AP: You know Tharp personally so what was it like being on the other side and
interviewing her?
COPELAND: Twyla it ended up being more nerve wracking once I got into it with
her because __ I mean, I should have known __ I’ve been working with her since I
was 6 years old. I’m 41 now__ she’s a ball buster. She wants to push the
boundaries and it didn’t matter what question I asked her, she was going to push
me (laughs) in every way.
But also, we’ve had an amazing relationship and she’s been a mentor to me my
whole career. I was nervous being on this side of things. And, you know,
whenever we would cut, she would just say, “Misty, just be you. You’ve done so
much, there’s nothing you have to prove. Let’s just talk.”
AP: Quinn has a compelling personal story that he brings into his art. How did
that inform your artistry to talk to him?
COPELAND: It was so emotional just hearing his story and the way that he tells
it. And to see it so vividly reflected in his work is inspiring as an artist. I
asked him about what it was to be a Black artist and has it been a struggle and
he just looks at things in a very different lens, at least from what my
experience has been as a Black artist. And I think those two different stories
are so important to tell. He kind of uses these things that he’s gone through as
a launching pad. And he’s like “I’m an artist. I make work that I hope will
speak to all people. Of course I’m thinking about my community, but it’s for
everyone.”
AP: You executive produced a new documentary called “LIFT” about a program that
helps kids experiencing housing insecurity find ways to express themselves
through dance. Why was that important to you?
COPELAND: It follows a handful of young people and really watching how LIFT has
provided tools to be better human beings to evolve and to kind of make choices
in a positive way. But it’s just showing the power of the arts. That to me is
like the grand scheme theme is that art saves lives, and dance and ballet can be
inclusive. It’s about who’s teaching it. It’s about getting rid of all of the
trauma and things you’ve dealt with and coming into the room and bringing ballet
at its core to these young people. It’s just a beautiful documentary.
AP: It feels like everything you do has a sense of common purpose, why?
COPELAND: I’ve always felt so privileged to be in the position that I’m in. I’ve
watched generations and generations and I have relationships with a lot of these
dancers, Black and brown, who weren’t given an opportunity like I have. So I
feel a responsibility being in this position that it’s not just about going on
stage and performing, though that’s extremely important to have representation
in that space. But for me to do everything I can to show what I’ve gained by
being a part of this art form and the importance of diversity, the importance of
having representation.
It’s amazing to have these things that are an extension of who I am as a
ballerina.
AP: Why did you start a petition to create new emojis related to dance that are
more inclusive?
COPELAND: Dance should be inclusive, it should be uniting. It’s a universal
language. It should be for everyone. These may seem like small, insignificant
things to a lot of people, but there’s a much bigger meaning and deeper meaning
behind it. You know, going back to the history of the pink tight and the pink
ballet slipper __ yes, there were white European people doing it in that time, so
they made these things to reflect them in their skin color. But now that’s not
all who’s dancing and who’s being exposed to it. So we should see that
representation through and through.
I look at these young people who are influenced by these things like emojis.
They’re on Tik Tok, they’re texting, they’re on Twitter and Instagram. It may
seem like an insignificant thing to maybe someone my age, but these young people
want to see themselves represented and reflected in these spaces.
AP: You are so busy, do you still make time to train?
COPELAND: I was up at 5 a.m. this morning on the treadmill (laughs.) I’m not
actively on stage right now because I really felt like it’s kind of now or never.
I’ve had an incredible career so far with ABT, and I’ve done everything and
more than I imagined.
I’m now in a position where I’ve founded this athletic wear line with Derek
Jeter and Wayne Gretzky, Greatness Wins. I’m the president and founder of the
Misty Copeland Foundation. I sit on the board of Lincoln Center and The Shed.
All of these things that I think are such an incredible evolution of where I’ve
come from as an artist and as a Black artist. And I now am in these spaces where
I can have impact and I have a voice and I have power and I want to take
advantage of this time.
But yes, I still have to take care of myself. I have to put myself first and
make sure I’m healthy so that I can take care of my 18-month-old and do all
these other things.
AP: Does your son show any desire to dance?
COPELAND: 100%! He came out of the womb with quads and calves and he’s like this
little muscle man. And he’s obsessed with ballet, which I did not try and do! He
didn’t see ballet until about a month ago, just on the screen. And he dances.
It’s unbelievable. I can’t wait to actually get him in a formal dance class.
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