Modern Athenas

Life in Motion is about Misty Copeland, the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, or ABT, in New York. The books winds its way from Misty’s childhood, when she first took up ballet at the local Boys and Girls Club at the urging of her Drill Team instructor, to her first competitions, her first auditions for prestigious summer programs, her entrance into the ABT Studio Team, her ascent to the corps de ballet, then to a soloist, and eventually to a principal dancer. Misty discusses not only her journey but the journey of her family through tumultuous years. Misty finds her way in life through ballet as well as through the guidance of mentors, who are themselves Modern Athenas. Throughout the book, Misty discusses lessons she has learned about life, about ballet, and about herself. It is these lessons that we are going to focus on today. 00:00-01:10 Intro and Background of the Book01:11-03:55 Discipline, No Shortcuts03:56-06:00 The Illusion of Perfection06:01-11:1