“Misty Copeland Is Promoted To Principal Dancer At American Ballet Theater”

Misty Copeland, whose openness about race in ballet helped to make her one of the most famous ballerinas in the United States, was promoted on Tuesday by American Ballet Theater, becoming the first African-American female principal dancer in the company’s 75-year history.

Jia spoke to Misty Copeland last spring, and today the New York Times wrote about her promotion to principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater. While re-reading Jia’s interview this question and answer seemed particularly relevant:

If you’d known the obstacles you were going to face when you started out, would you have done anything differently?

Not at all. I would have taken on the ballet world again and again because of what it’s given me as a person.

Congratulations, Misty.