Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

I love classical ballet but not its lack of non-white female dancers (for some reason, brown and black men seem to be more acceptable). Misty Copeland is one of the few black women who have made it to soloist/principal in a major American company. Her story of hardship is very inspiring. She came up through the Boys and Girls Clubs in California, with minimal support from her parents. She found mentors who quickly saw her talent and drive. Misty has such an elemental joy in performing that shines through in the book. She handles very tough decisions - emancipation from her mother, racism all around her in ABT (American Ballet Theater), recovery from injuries. One of the best parts is her collaboration with Prince, who turns out to be as show more sweet, shy, and thoughtful as we all thought. I can't wait to see her dance! show less

A fascinating life story, with lots of personal and straightforward reflection on the intersections of race/racism/blackness/whiteness/privilege and professional ballet. I found Copeland's struggle to work through which demands and decisions are racist, sexist (though I don't believe the book uses this word), and/or "superficial" -- in an art form that, as she emphasizes, is visual and aesthetic and about how bodies look onstage -- really interesting, along with her related thoughts on the tension between fitting in (a line of dancers blending seamlessly in the choreography) and standing out, showing one's own personality, insisting on being "a brown cat" instead of having white makeup for the Puss in Boots role yet again, that sort of show more thing.

However, the book could have used more rigorous editing to reduce repetition and smooth out the chronology. I felt really bored and ready to be done for the last 80 pages or so; the book just sort of lost its momentum, its own sense of motion. show less

Best for: Those who enjoy a good memoir; those who enjoy a story about someone rising to the pinnacle in their artistic field.

In a nutshell: Misty Copeland tells the story of her life, from living in southern California to being promoted to be the first African American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre.

Line that sticks with me: “In ballet, appearance is critical. That may seem superficial or frivolous, but in an art form that is visual, and so much about grace and suppleness, it definitely matters.” (p 108) (I am not a fan of the implications in that line.)

Why I chose it: I enjoy going to the ballet, and I’ve seen articles describing her talents in the past.

Review: I often find it hard to write reviews of show more books that I don’t love and don’t dislike. This book falls into that middling category, although do want to say that I think this is a fine book, and that people who are interested in learning more about Ms. Copeland’s life will not be disappointed.

It is full of candor, and benefits from having distance from many of the more difficult subjects she addresses (her childhood, the fight over where she should live). Though not all stories are in her past, as especially in the second half of the book when she shares more of her experience not just as a dancer starting many years late, but as a black dancer in a field dominated by white dancers.

I appreciate Ms. Copeland’s honesty as she navigates how to share the feelings she has about her field, especially as she is still in it. It’s possible that this book might look different if written a decade after she stops dancing - I’m thinking of how the book by Abby Wambach, who has retired, had a very different feel from the one by Carly Lloyd.

The one thing that I found frustrating, and it was a small section, was in her discussion about the challenges she faced when she finally went through puberty and found herself curvier than other ballerinas. It's interesting to read her stand up for herself - that she should be viewed based on her skill and ability, and not punished for not fitting the antiquated idea of super-thin, white ballerina, but in the same breathe say things like the line I pulled up top. Would she support someone with as much talent, skill, and grace as her who was, say, 300 pounds? She doesn't seem to want limits placed on herself, but at the same time seems to accept different limits that she agrees with. I have a hard time reconciling that.

As someone who enjoys ballet, I enjoyed the discussion of the work that goes into creating that art. I think to enjoy the book you should at least have some interest in ballet. show less

Misty Copeland has a life worth writing about. Raised by a beautiful mother who escaped one relationship with a man by running into the next one. Misty and her five siblings move to a new house and situation every few years, eventually ending up with all seven of them in poverty trying to share a motel room. When she is 14 Misty is encouraged by her drill team instructor to take a ballet class at her local Boys and Girls Club. Misty describes feeling a physical intuition about the movement she is taught - holding any pose asked of her and remembering sequences of steps easily. Soon, Misty is introduced to an woman who owns a dance studio. From there her natural talent is cultivated by a long list of mentors, while she struggles to show more overcome family, racial, and body image challenges.
This book contains some interesting parts. I particularly liked learning about the path dancers take to become part of a dance company. I also enjoyed what Misty shared about the different roles in a ballet performance. However, most of the story felt undeveloped to me. She is not the only sibling from her family that is successful, but she does not delve into her family culture to offer an explanation. She does not detail what it feels like to be a prodigy. She talks about how uncomfortable it is to be the only woman of color in a dance class, but she gives it no nuance or depth. And toward the end of the book she talks about her goal of becoming a soloist for the American Ballet Theater in a way that sounds like she is making a bid for it in the writing of the book. If her intention was to write a book for adults, I think she would have been well served by writing this book as an older woman or perhaps having a biographer write it for her. show less

I've had this on my shelf for over two years. When I first saw a video of Misty dancing it caught my attention, and learning that she started dancing at age 13 cinched it. Yet I let the book sit, while I watched the film made about Misty and occasionally heard of her in the news.

Here we learn some of the details of Misty's life. The fleshing out of the basic story. As most stories are, it's more complex than it appears at first.

Misty was one of several children of a single mom. Her mother went from husband to boyfriend to another boyfriend, usually leaving without notice, just grabbing the children and a few things and taking off. So Misty lived in a lot of places in Southern California. It is lucky she stayed in close to the same area show more long enough to discover ballet and to explore it in some depth.

From between the lines we learn that Misty is closer to her siblings than to her mother. We suspect that she resents her mother for relying on a stream of men for income and homes so much of Misty's childhood, instead of relying on her own resources. As an adult Misty is closer to her mom and is kind to her, but she had to be honest in the telling, to reveal much of what shaped her. We also have to figure there must have been something in Mom (she calls her Mommy throughout) that affected all of her children positively, even if their success was in part a reaction to what they did not want in their own lives. That is, they strived and succeeded to avoid continuing to live the way they grew up.

There is no doubt there was some luck involved in the ballet story. Misty joined a drill team. In fact, she pushed her way into leading it. And the drill team instructor took notice, not only of her drive but also of her moves. She suggested that she check out ballet classes at the nearby Boys and Girls Club. At first Misty was not thrilled. She was small and didn't know the moves and felt out of place. But Cindy, the instructor, could also see her potential. And we could say the rest is history, because in a way it is.

Cindy coached Misty through a few years of dance, even inviting her to live with her when Misty's mom moved the gang into a motel. Misty thrived, learning the moves very quickly, and even trying out for summer ballet programs hosted by top ballet organizations by the time she was fifteen. It was through one of these programs that she made it to New York and the American Ballet Theatre.

Nobody's life is without pain and setbacks, and Misty had plenty of these. Yet in important ways she overcame them. At one point she became convinced that she was not valued at ABT because she was black. Her examples of why she felt this way are vague, however. I do not doubt that there was some discrimination. And I know from my own life that I often forget important details that would back up my feelings, so this may be what happened. Regardless, Misty came to believe that it was up to her to make it or not, and others' feelings about her are irrelevant.

Which does not make this a Cinderella story. And everyone lives happily ever after. For Misty, her obligation is to others. She was gifted and she was lucky. Not everyone is, but those in reduced circumstances still deserve a chance as much as any privileged child does. Misty devotes much of her life to this belief. We can and should applaud her for the beauty and wonder she brings to ballet, but as the years go on, we should appreciate even more what she brings to others.

The book is written with help and it is about average for this type autobiography. For me, there was too much jumping around in time to describe certain aspects of Misty's life. I would have appreciated a bit more of an ordered arrangement, with different events shaping Misty slowly. show less

i want to be very clear upfront -- i love (LOVE!) misty copeland. i think she is fierce, admirable and inspirational. this review is not about her or her life. this review is about the quality of the book.

and the quality of the book for me was, unfortunately, not great. i didn't find the writing particularly strong, and i found the structure of the telling erratic and repetitive. so this is just such a shame. i have found that when people of note pen their memoirs and choose a co-author, it can make for a really bumpy reading experience. i end up feeling frustrated that these people, who are so, so strong in their fields, don't seem to apply the same determination and focus in creating a book that is fantastic. (recent disappointing show more memoirs i have read that fall into this area for me include Rocks: My Life in and out of Aerosmith and Slash.) i truly feel copeland's book could have been so much more.

i did really enjoy the behind-the-scenes aspects of the book - misty's time at san francisco ballet's summer intensive, time with the ABT, and her classes in san pedro as a child. i would have loved even more of this, more time hearing about the classes and rehearsals, and the productions that were being created. as a former bunhead, these aspects of a dancers life are fascinating to me. copeland's personal story is pretty messy. she and her siblings endured some tough, uncertain times, and a lot of chaos. that they have each (the kids) come through to be successful is a testament, i think, to the strength of character they all possess.

one of the frustrations i felt in the book had to do with the issue of weight - this is a subject seen to be problematic in the dance world. a certain line or shape is required/desired for the more classic ballets. copeland repeatedly tells us that her body does not conform to the standard. she tells us about her curves and her breasts being viewed as problematic, right along with her skin colour. copeland touches briefly on bulimia and eating disorders. she presents dismay at dancers not being seen as healthy and strong - because many (most!!) have excellent eating habits, and ensure they are getting the foods and calories essential to keeping their bodies healthy and strong. and if you look at misty copeland, there is no doubt she is healthy and strong. so during the times she was so fixated on weight gain and trying to get her weight under control, i felt upset that it was running contrary to the message i feel she was trying to convey. at one point, copeland reveals she is a size 0. and yes, size 0 women can be curvy too. i know!! but i just felt like this part of her story only seemed to reinforce the unrealistic expectations put upon dancers. i wish she had of used this platform in a better way.

so, while i am bummed this was not a stronger read for me, i think it will be a great book for many people. in particular, younger women/teenagers interested in dance, hoping to become ballerinas, feeling like it's an uphill battle. perhaps, actually, this book is suited to a younger reader? as i said, misty copeland is an inspirational woman.

if you have any doubt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY0cd... show less

I didn't know anything Misty Copeland when I picked this up at the library and enjoyed learning her story. I especially liked her insider's view of learning to dance, the rigor and incredible commitment it takes, and the behind-the-scenes look at the competitive atmosphere of a major ballet company. She's an amazing woman and overcame enormous challenges with courage and grit. A quick read and interesting glimpse into the world of professional dance. The style of the writing was uneven and the author voice felt clunky and plodding - but Misty has a lot to say and I'm glad she's saying it!