I've seen it happen with these girls that come to me, and some of them are really broken because they've been told 'no' so many times. I think that especially young kids need to hear those words, because I think that if you say 'maybe' or 'it's possible,' I think it's very easy for them to interpret that as 'no, it's not.' There are so many opportunities beyond these top companies that they can be a part of the ballet world in some way, and so I think its necessary for them to hear that. On the optimistic tone of the book, telling young dancers they will succeed

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. The book is dedicated to her mentor Raven Wilkinson, the first African-American ballerina to tour the country.Ĭlose overlay Buy Featured Book Title Firebird Author Misty Copeland and Christopher Myers In a ballet company attempting to create an experience of uniformity, she says, 'It's hard to be the one that stands out.' In her new children's book, Firebird, Copeland seeks to inspire other young African-American dancers. 'It was a huge step for the African-American community.'Īnd she believes it's just one step in the larger direction that ballet is going. 'It was one of the first really big principal roles I was ever given an opportunity to dance with American Ballet Theatre,' she tells NPR's Steve Inskeep. The tale is illustrated by Christopher Myers.Īrt by Christopher Myers, courtesy of Penguin Young Readers Groupįor ballerina Misty Copeland, the role of the Firebird is a personally symbolic one.

'You will soar, become a swan, a beauty, a firebird for sure,' she writes. In her new children's book, Firebird, Misty Copeland encourages a young dancer to have faith in herself.

Firebird ballet misty copeland