Misty Copeland — On Injury, Resilience, and 25 Years in Ballet | Pushing Over the Box

Misty Copeland started ballet at 13, was the only Black dancer at ABT for the first 10 years of her career, and waited over 15 years to be promoted to principal — and through all of it, she says she never felt pressure, only responsibility. This conversation is everything you'd hope it would be and more.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Misty Copeland, the first Black principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre's history, following her retirement after a 25-year career. They discuss what it really felt like rising through every rank at ABT, how she approached injuries as moments of growth rather than setbacks, and what it meant to be the first — and what she felt was her responsibility because of it.

TIMESTAMPS:

[12:37] The Hardest and Best Parts of Each Rank at ABT [17:28] Injuries and the Mindset to Overcome Them

[18:27] Being the First Black Principal Dancer at ABT

ABOUT THE GUEST: Misty Copeland is the first African American woman to be appointed principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, a position she held following a 25-year career with the company. She is the author of multiple books including Life in Motion, the founder of her own arts education foundation, and one of the most recognized and influential figures in the history of American ballet.

ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.

CONNECT:

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Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com

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Topics discussed: first Black principal dancer ABT, ballet injury mindset, corps de ballet life, retiring from ballet, diversity in ballet

Guest: Misty Copeland — Former Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre; Author and Founder, Misty Copeland Foundation

Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com