The internet is currently very busy falling in love with Misty Copeland, the oft-considered ballet prodigy who just became the first black principal ballerina at one of the three leading ballet companies in America — American Ballet Theater. Copeland was recently regarded as one of Time's 100 most influential people alongside Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Lorne Michaels, and other notable figures.
In recent interviews, Copeland speaks with determined passion on the future of ballet and the profound importance of continued creativity in the lives of artists and everyday citizens alike. "I never saw a ballerina who looked like me before," Copeland told the audience at the Time 100 gala back in April. I’m here to be a vessel for all these brown ballerinas who have come before me." In addition to her 14 years with the American Ballet Theater, Copeland has written two books — Firebird and Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.
Upon Tuesday's news that Copeland would be stepping up to the principal ballerina position, Twitter expressed an outpouring of congratulatory support — celebrating the beauty of both the increasing diversity in a growing number of creative mediums, and Copeland herself:
Congrats, Misty!
