6-year-old.
>> Misty Copeland and president
Obama talking about what they
had in common in 2019 when they
both made time's magazine.
>> Misty became the first
African-American named principal
dancer at the prestigious
American ballet theater and now
is blowing audiences away in the
company's production of "The
nutcracker," give it up for
misty Copeland!
>> Hello!
>> Yes, yes, how are you?
So great to see you.
Thank you for coming.
>> I'm doing good.
>> I see you, I want to stand in
fifth position and get my
posture going, you know what I
mean?
I love that you've been able,
growing up -- mom put me in a
bunch of dance classes.
The fact you've been able to
expose it to so many different
audiences is so cool.
>> I never imagined it would
lead to anything like that.
>> Lead to hanging out with the
president.
What did you remember when you
sat down with him?
>> I had met him many times
before that.
If I hadn't I don't think I
would have been able to open my
mouth.
I was comfortable in a way to
connect with him.
He's like just normal.
It's so incredible that someone
with, you know, all that he's
gone through in his level of,
you know, just what he's
achieved, to be able to just
step back and still just relate
to people as human beings is
incredible.
>> In a lot of ways, people feel
that way about you and what
you've accomplished in dance
because you've opened doors, you
bust through doors, not only
just for yourself but allowed
other people the license to
dream in a way that you did.
What does it feel like when
you're on that stage and you're
able to see other young people
of color, not just in the
production but the audience
appreciating for the first time.
>> That's what president Obama
was doing as well, just to have
that visual, that representation
go so far and, you know, for me
to be on that stage, and for
some -- a brown kid or wherever
they're from -- to be able to
see anything is possible,
doesn't matter what you look
like, about how you make people
feel when he you're in an art
form on the stage.
It's unbelievable to see all
these young kids in the theater
and still -- I feel like when we
put our phones down and we can
jst be in the presence of like
live art and really experience
something that's, you know, so
human, you know.
The allege of movement is
universal.
>> It really is.
One of those little girls you
had a huge influence on, little
Luna legend.
>> Come on!
>> Chrissy and John's little
girl, performed at the
nutcracker, right?
>> Last night.
>> Great.
>> John is incredible and Crissy
and her platform, what she's
done.
They've been posting, Luna's
been talking to me for a while,
I will be misty and I will do
this.
Yeah, it was nice to finally get
to meet her.
It's interesting and fascinating
to see how different kids
respond in different ways.
>> Discovering it right there.
>> I like to see -- kobe came
last night as well with Vanessa
and their kids and great to see
how their little girl responded
with like, my gosh, I will touch
you.
And like how Luna responded to
wait, you were just a fairytale
princess on stage and now you're
in the real world.
Weird, I will hide under a
chair.
>> For them to see themselves
through me.
>> Major parent points.
I didn't know this but you
toured with prince on and off.
Wow.
How was that?
>> Well, well --
>> That did happen.
>> That was a long time ago.
>> He, I think, was really one
of the first people that gave me
a sense of purpose and
understanding of owning the fact
that I'm a unique individual in
my craft.
If anyone could show me that, it
was prince, what it is to just
own your differences, and that
it's so beautiful.
I think that's so important to
point out, especially this day
and age, young people are
looking at social media.
Everyone wants to look like the
next person.
It was incredible and just to be
on stage with him and travel all
over the world and perform at
Madison square garden with him.
He's unbelievable, even if it's
through a male figure, just
having a black artist at his
level did so much for me.
>> You mentioned it earlier,
"The nutcracker," too, what is
it about the "Nutcracker," makes
it a special show?
>> Part of every dancer's life.
American ballet comes to Costa
Mesa and we perform it every
center at the center for the
arts.
This version in particular, I
love to become a character.
Not just an athletic feet but
you're also an artist, and
you're telling a story without
speaking.
So, you know, I love that about
the "Nutcracker" in particular.
It's a part of our holidays.
I think as Americans.
>> Right.
Nobody does it like you do.
>> Nobody does it.
What an incredible artist.
To see you dance is like
watching art happen in front of
your face.
It's incredible.
If you haven't had a chance, get
you a ticket!
Look.
>> And her legs are incredible.
I love powerful women.
When she came out, I was like,
whoo, yeah.
>> I don't often meet people
smaller than me.
>> I love it so much.