Misty Copeland

Bio:
Misty Copeland (born Misty Danielle Copeland on September 10, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American ballet dancer, who became the first black woman to be named a principal dancer in the American Ballet Theater. Her career as a dancer began when she was just 15, and won first place at the Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Awards. After that, she began studying at the San Francisco Ballet School, despite offers from other prestigious companies. She joined the American Ballet Theater for its 1999 and 2000 Summer Intensive programs, and was then one of six dancers selected to join the junior dance troupe. In 2007, she was promoted to a soloist in the company, and on June 30, 2015, it was announced that she would be a principal dancer in the troupe — the first African-American female to receive that honor in the company’s 75-year history. In addition to dance, Misty has written books, starred in campaigns for BlackBerry, Dr. Pepper & more, and marketed a dance wear line.

Best Known For:
Misty is best known for being a professional ballet dancer.

Personal Life:

Misty is married to Olu Evans, with whom she has been together for 10 years and wed on July 31, 2016. They live together in Manhattan. From 1995-1998, Misty lived with her dance trainers, Cynthia and Patrick Bradley, but after three years, her mother tried to pull her from their training. At 16, Misty filed for legal emancipation from her mother, and in late 1998, a bitter, highly-publicized custody battle ensued. Her mother claimed the Bradley’s had brainwashed her daughter into filing for emancipation, and she filed a restraining order against the couple. The case ended when Misty’s mom promised she would never take dancing away, and the emancipation papers and restraining order were dropped.