Misty Copeland, an African American ballerina

I love ballet and I think in another life I would have loved to have been a ballerina. In this life, I don't have the body nor the stamina. But there's an African American ballerina who has both. Her name is Misty Copeland.

Copeland was born in Kansas City, MO and raised in the San Pedro, CA . She is of African, German and Italian descent. Copeland is the youngest of Sylvia DelaCerna's four children from her first marriage.

Copeland is considered a prodigy who rose to stardom despite not starting ballet until the age of 13. By age 15, Copeland's mother and ballet teachers, who were serving as her custodial guardians, fought a custody battle over her. 

Meanwhile, Copeland, who was already an award-winning dancer, was fielding professional offers. The 1998 legal proceedings involved filings for emancipation by Copeland and restraining order by her mother. Both sides dropped legal proceedings, and Copeland moved home to begin studying under a new teacher who was a former ABT member.