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Misty Copeland and the Power of Perseverance
Just imagine for a moment…
…you’re thirteen years old…you have your whole life ahead of you, and you’re passionate about your dream…you already know what you want to be and do…at such a young and tender age…you’re smitten.
And then someone says…
“Dear Candidate, thank you for your application to our ballet academy. Unfortunately, you have not been accepted. You lack the right feet, Achilles tendons, turn out, torso length and bust. You have the wrong body for ballet and at 13 you are too old to be considered.”
…
……
………
…what would you do?
-> Would you give up on your dream just because someone in a position of authority says you’re no good and you don’t have what it takes mentally, physically or otherwise…or do you listen to your heart and soul?
-> Do your resolve and commitment strengthen?
-> Do you dig deeper than ever before?
-> Do you set your sights even higher?
-> Do you know in the deepest depths of the core of your very Be~ing that you are meant for this?
-> …and that nothing, nor no one, will stop you?
I don’t know about you, but I’m always deeply inspired by sporting greats and what is increasingly possible for the human body; and the universal story of the underdog, of being told no, of not fitting the mould…and yet succeeding.
History Has Been Made…
History was made on 30th June 2015, in the ballet world when soloist Misty Copeland was promoted to Principal Ballerina, thereby becoming the first African American female principal in the 75-year history of the prestigious American Ballet Theater.
Copeland’s rise to fame, despite the centuries of tradition working against her, has served as an inspiration not only for young dancers around the world who don’t fit the mould, but for any one of us who finds ourselves in situations where we don’t ‘fit in’…and we’re told we don’t have what it takes.
During her subsequent performance of Swan Lake, Misty repeatedly experienced cheers so intense they stopped the show…
