Misty Copeland Changed Ballet | She Was First

Misty Copeland made history as the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre—but her journey to the top was anything but traditional. Introduced to ballet at just 13 years old, Misty overcame a childhood marked by instability, adversity, and self-doubt to rise through one of the most demanding art forms in the world. In this powerful story, she opens up about breaking barriers, confronting racism in ballet, redefining beauty standards, and using her platform to create opportunities for the next generation. After stepping away from the stage for five years, Misty returns—not just as a dancer, but as a symbol of resilience, transformation, and legacy. This is a story about power, purpose, and what it means to be “the first.” What You’ll Learn: -How Misty Copeland discovered ballet at 13 -The challenges of being the only Black dancer at ABT -Breaking stereotypes in the ballet world -Her rise to principal dancer and global icon -Why representation in the arts matters -Her emotional return to the stage Watch more conversations with groundbreaking artists and changemakers from She Was First - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr4S3PqZjXgm2siiuGvLZekEvHGT4_qc2 -------------------------------- Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthFloridaPBS Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wpbt2/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@southfloridapbs We couldn’t do this without you! Support South Florida PBS by donating here: https://bit.ly/SupportSFPBS -------------------------------- #mistycopeland #ballet #womeninarts #breakingbarriers #documentary #pbs #southfloridapbs