People think of classical dancers
as like these perfect, soft, fairy tale characters.
And I've been asked before, wouldn't you
want to be perfect?
Why would I keep doing this if I were perfect at it?
It would be so boring.
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Having been a professional for almost 20 years,
I want to bring ballet to more people.
Every human being should experience dance
in some way at some point.
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In this MasterClass, you will learn
a simple way of approaching the ballet technique,
as well as all that it takes to accept who you are
and embrace who you want to be.
You're really in such a vulnerable state
when you're with someone on stage,
and you're experiencing what you are.
And then you also have to be so free.
The number one thing is absolutely trust.
Yay. It was good.
[LAUGHS]
I didn't start ballet until I was 13.
I experienced a lot of hardships from a young age.
Speaking was terrifying.
And so to find this language through movement was like,
oh, this has been the missing link my whole 13
years of living.
It wasn't until dance came into my life
that it made me confident.
Focus on your placement principles as you move
to attitude on relevé.
They will help keep you from pitching your upper body
forward.
[SIGHS] [LAUGHS]
So I rotate in and, then, there you go.
When it comes to working with a choreographer,
come in with the approach of being a blank canvas.
You're there to be molded.
I went through a really difficult time
where I started to believe people's words that I
wasn't right.
I wasn't good enough.
It was a way of saying, you don't have the right skin
color for dance.
I could have walked away, but I took it as fuel.
Own your power and your voice.
Do not let other people's words define you.
I'm Misty Copeland, and this is my MasterClass.
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