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Will What You Want: A Message the New Face of American Dance, Misty Copeland

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Source: JoelMinden.com

In an effort to find something interesting to watch on television, I found myself caught in a commercial vortex- it seemed like none of my favorite shows were on, every station just running advertisement after advertisement. Typically, this would drive me crazy, however I surprisingly found myself mesmerized and moved by one ad in particular, for Under Armour:

As part of Under Armour’s “I WILL WHAT I WANT” campaign, ballerina Misty Copeland effortlessly floated across the screen, defying physics and bursting through the glass ceiling of what is a very conservative and exclusive creative discipline. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Copeland, she is currently a leading soloist at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and is the first female African American dancer to hold this prestigious title, since the early 1980s. Her age (31), body type, cultural background, and upbringing, are all uncharacteristic of traditional expectations for the life of a prima ballerina, but Misty Copeland’s hard work, tenacity, flawless footwork has allowed her to break that mold and rock the dance world, bringing this old world artistic tradition into the 21st century. Without a single word, she is able to express her emotional journey to success, conquering much adversity and laughing in the faces of anyone who ever doubted her incredible talent. Her confidence and ability to truly believe in herself is clearly the secret to her many successes. A brilliant and versatile dancer radiating poise and elegance, she is truly an inspiration to people everywhere, calling each individual to “will what they want”. If you dream it, you can do it!

Source: Graphis

Check out this other Misty Copeland performance, from the Arsenio Hall show:

For more on Misty Copeland’s career evolution and life experiences, check out these interview clips below:
Misty Copeland’s interview with Fusion’s Alicia Menendez, where she discusses her life’s journey and career:

Misty Copeland discusses her dance inspiration and her memoir, Misty Copeland: An Unlikely Ballerina’s Story:

Source: Culsire

For more on Misty Copeland’s story, I also highly recommend picking up a copy of her memoir, Misty Copeland: An Unlikely Ballerina’s Story here. (My copy is currently being delivered to me right now! Can’t wait to read it!)

Sources: 1 | 2

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