Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

Written by Misty Copeland

Narrated by Lisa Renee Pitts

"Picture a ballerina in a tutu and toe shoes. What does she look like?"

As the only African-American soloist dancing with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has made history. But when she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, anxious thirteen-year-old to become a ground­breaking ballerina.

When she discovered ballet, Misty was living in a shabby motel room, struggling with her five siblings for a place to sleep on the floor. A true prodigy, she was dancing en pointe within three months of taking her first dance class and performing professionally in just over a year: a feat unheard of for any classical dancer. But when Misty became caught between the control and comfort she found in the world of ballet and the harsh realities of her own life (culmi­nating in a highly publicized custody battle), she had to choose to embrace both her identity and her dreams, and find the courage to be one of a kind.

With an insider's unique point of view, Misty opens a window into the life of a professional ballerina who lives life center stage: from behind the scenes at her first auditions to her triumphant roles in some of the most iconic ballets. But in this beautifully written memoir, she also delves deeper to reveal the desire and drive that made her dreams reality.

Life in Motion is a story of passion and grace for anyone who has dared to dream of a different life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Mar 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781494570392

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland made history by becoming the third African-American ballerina for the American Ballet Theatre, the first in decades. A recipient of the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts and an inductee into the Boys and Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame, she currently lives in New York City. Visit her online at MistyCopeland.com.

Reviews for Life in Motion

[daryl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’m so glad I listened to this book. The reader’s voice added a lot. Misty’s story is so inspirational, and her passion for ballet and personal excellence is infectious. She’s basically the David Goggins of ballet. They both share many parallels in their lives which reveal simple truths about dedication, focus, and will power that anyone who’s willing to listen can glean.

[salsabrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Narrated by Lisa Renee Pitts.?Copeland shares the struggles and challenges of her itinerant upbringing and later as a black ballerina in the lily-white ballet world. It's remarkable that she transcended a background that would typically render most young people as statistics. A story that is especially inspirational for teens and young adults. Pitts' clear and deliberate performance reflects Copeland's determination and passion. There are occasional moments of a halting delivery that trips the flow of the narrative but otherwise it is a compelling reading.

[bookbrig-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quick, interesting read, with great details about ballet and Copeland's childhood. I love reading about dancers, and this was really satisfying with a small handful of photos included. Though I always want MORE photos in dance books, because it's such a visual art. Anyway, totally worth a read, great choice for teens as well, I think, since so much of the story takes place during her childhood and adolescence.

[mmaestiho · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a beautiful story of Copeland's path to ballet and the ABT.

[askelmore · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[kitbraddick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a beautiful book about Misty Copeland's life. This book shows and teaches resilience to readers... Misty experienced a great deal of struggle but she emerged outrageously successful. It is a great story for kids to read because they can see that no matter the circumstances, you can be successful and you can overcome... that is incredibly important to teach students because often they get stuck on the reasons why they will fail instead of searching for ways to make it. Books like these are a gift.

[sltaylor-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[crystalantoinette-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Looking for a book to read as a family? This is perfect. My daughters (10 & 4) and I listen to this as an audiobook in the car. This book doesn't shy away from issues of race or class, but the authors did an outstanding job keeping the story appropriate for the whole family. Life in Motion is great for starting discussions with little ones and giving them an opportunity to put themselves in Misty's shoes. BONUS: Misty Copeland's story is a great way to reinforce values you are working to instill in your children (hard work, resilience, following your dreams, etc.) without giving another lecture.

[froxgirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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 sweet, shy, and thoughtful as we all thought. I can't wait to see her dance!

[janarose1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Living in a motel room with her mom and five siblings, Misty felt like she was trapped. Through a class at the Boys and Girls Club, she discovered ballet. Although nervous at first, she soon discovered that she had an innate talent . In order to learn more, she moves in with her teacher, who shows her an entirely different life from the one she had. Although her mother tolerates this for a while, when Misty is on the verge of success, her mom launches a custody battle to regain control of her daughter.I thought the first half of this book was pretty interesting. It was well written and had a good pace to it. The second half seemed to devolve into name dropping, thanking everyone and passing on the same words of wisdom over and over. The last few chapters all seemed the same and I found myself hoping that the book would end.