Podcast Summary: Fresh Air – Misty Copeland Begins A New Chapter

Host: Tonya Moseley
Guest: Misty Copeland
Date: November 5, 2025

Overview

This episode of Fresh Air is an intimate conversation with Misty Copeland, the trailblazing ballerina who became the first Black woman promoted to principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre's (ABT) 85-year history. As Copeland steps away from the ABT stage following her farewell performance, she reflects on her extraordinary career, the burdens and joys of being a pioneering Black artist, the evolution and pain of her physical journey, her relationship with representation in ballet, her work with Prince, and her future artistic ambitions. The conversation is honest, reflective, and inspiring, offering rare insights into Copeland’s resilience, vulnerability, and evolving sense of legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Farewell Performance and Emotions About Transition

• The Return to the Stage: After a five-year hiatus, Copeland returned for a farewell filled with symbolism and gratitude.

  • She felt "very calm and low" after the performance, underscoring a sense of gratitude and a focus on the recoveries after intense performances, which she’d almost forgotten ([02:05]).
  • She prepared for the farewell months in advance, having not danced or even been physically active during her break ([03:08]).

• Why She Agreed to a Farewell:

  • Misty never wanted a public send-off but recognized, “What I represent is something far bigger than me... I had to get back up on that stage because what I represent is something far bigger than me” ([05:24]).
  • The performance became a public thank-you to communities she’s inspired and represented.

2. Physical Pain, Resilience, and Recovery

• Dancing Through Injury:

  • Copeland performed with a serious hip injury, including bone spurs, a labral tear, and cartilage loss ([08:28]).
  • Confessed to canceling rehearsals and scaling back training to "reserve" her hip for the performance.

• Perspective on Pain:

  • Her childhood, marked by instability and discomfort, shaped her relationship with pain and resilience.
  • “I think my relationship with pain, yeah, it started very early... Coming into the dance world and experiencing just the pain of what it takes to train in ballet… was very innate, very natural for me.” ([09:48]).

• Comparing Labor to Ballet:

  • Despite a challenging birth, Copeland quips, “I still don't think that anything compares to Swan Lake, really.” ([16:12])
  • Childbirth felt familiar due to her ballet training; she was “emotionally, mentally, and physically prepared” ([15:53]).

3. Race, Representation, and Transformation in Ballet

• Making Ballet More Inclusive:

  • Copeland recalls painting her own pointe shoes as a teenager to match her skin—now, shoes come in a range of skin tones ([11:53]).
  • “The fact that we're even at this point and companies are having the conversation is huge.” ([14:09])
  • She acknowledges evolving company policies but notes, “this is an ongoing kind of learning, evolving thing” ([13:05]).

• The Meaning of "First":

  • Copeland describes feeling the burden and pride of being a "first," only to later discover predecessors like Raven Wilkinson were erased from history ([22:18]).
  • She channels anger from these revelations into activism: “It went from anger to curiosity of, you know, well, how can I find out about more and how can I share those stories?” ([22:18])
  • Her books and foundation are vehicles for documenting Black ballet history.

4. Copeland's Dance Ethos and Unique Approaches

• Rejecting Pads in Pointe Shoes:

  • Famously performed without protective pads, a rigorous practice instilled by a teacher focused on articulation, though grudgingly used tissue during her comeback ([15:40]).
  • “She didn't allow us to wear anything in her shoes... I'm very grateful for that, and I agree wholeheartedly.” ([14:30])

• On Change and Relearning:

  • After childbirth, Misty finds challenge and excitement in relearning ballet with a changed body.
  • “It's as if I've been reborn and I have a new body to try it through... It's like learning to dance again.” ([19:04])

5. Personal Life and Family

• Mother’s Influence:

  • Copeland’s mother danced and choreographed for the family, sparking Misty’s relationship with music and movement ([24:29]).

• Her “Rebellion” and Growth:

  • Describes a period of personal rebellion—eating poorly, staying out, searching for identity ([25:28]).
  • Meeting her husband shifted her perspective toward self-care.

• Her Son and Farewell Bow:

  • A tender moment as her three-year-old son, Jackson, presented her with a dog figurine, making the experience more meaningful ([17:35]).
  • Witnessing his confidence, she says, “A star is born.” ([18:30])

6. Misty Copeland's Collaboration with Prince

• How Prince Found Her:

  • Prince pursued her for a year for a music video, having been a fan of her work since she was young ([30:46]).
  • “He really showed me what it was to be one of a kind, to be unique, to be proud, to stand in his uniqueness and to use that as a power.” ([31:38])

• Creative Working Relationship:

  • Prince encouraged Misty’s artistry, improvisation, and helped broaden ballet’s audience.
  • Their rehearsal schedules were intense and collaborative, often working late at night ([33:19]).

• Music Video Experience:

  • “Crimson and Clover” shoot: “He just sat right next to the camera guy... taking pictures of me through the whole shoot” ([36:29]).
  • Prince shot the full video with another dancer before seeking out Misty, saying, “I've been waiting to know her” ([37:07]).

7. Looking Forward: Legacy and the Next Chapter

• Vision for the Future:
  • Excited by “limitless” artistic opportunities, from her production company to broader storytelling:
  • “I want to stay true to myself and not just kind of be out there, just to be out there, but with intention and purpose.” ([37:58])
  • Aims to lead transformation from within arts, especially for young people of color.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Being More than Herself:
"What I represent is something far bigger than me... I had to get back up on that stage because what I represent is something far bigger than me." – Misty Copeland ([05:24])

On Dancing Through Pain and Recovery:
"There's always some kind of obstacle that I have to overcome to get to these... roles. Even in my last performance with ABT, I was barely walking before and somehow... muster up the..." – Misty Copeland ([08:28])

On Childhood and Mental Strength:
"I think my relationship with pain… started very early… coming into the dance world and experiencing just the pain of what it takes to train in ballet and be an athlete, the mental strength… was very innate, very natural for me." – Misty Copeland ([09:48])

On Inclusion and Pointe Shoes:
"That's just right there, saying, for a Black or Brown dancer, this isn't for you. You don't belong." – Misty Copeland ([11:53])

On Copeland's Farewell and Son's Role:
"When I saw Jackson walking toward me... he wanted to do this on his own... I was like, a star is born." – Misty Copeland ([17:35])

On Swan Lake vs. Childbirth:
"I still don't think that anything compares to Swan Lake, really." – Misty Copeland ([16:12])

On Learning Black Ballet History:
"It went from anger to curiosity of, you know, well, how can I find out about more and how can I share those stories?" – Misty Copeland ([22:18])

On Working with Prince:
"He really showed me what it was to be one of a kind, to be unique, to be proud, to stand in his uniqueness and to use that as a power." – Misty Copeland ([31:38])
"He just sat right next to the camera guy filming it... taking pictures of me through the whole shoot." ([36:29])

On Her Approach to the Future:
"I'm open, you know, I'm open to just creating and being able to be an artist in a different way now. Like, to have more say in the stories that I'm telling... It just feels limitless right now." – Misty Copeland ([37:58])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:09 – Introduction and farewell context
• 02:05 – Feelings after her final bow
• 03:08 – Five-year hiatus and ramping up for final performance
• 08:28 – Copeland discusses last-minute hip injury
• 09:48 – Relationship to pain, childhood, and mental training
• 11:53 – Painting pointe shoes, inclusion and ballet tradition
• 14:30 – Dancing without pads and transition back after time off
• 15:53 – Ballet pain versus childbirth
• 17:35 – Special moment with her son at her farewell performance
• 19:04 – Changes to her body and technique post-motherhood
• 22:18 – Discovering Black ballet forebears, embracing legacy
• 24:29 – Influence of her mother and music
• 25:28 – Her period of personal rebellion
• 27:43 – Meeting her husband and changing her self-care
• 30:46 – Relationship and collaboration with Prince
• 33:19 – Behind-the-scenes of touring and rehearsing with Prince
• 36:29 – Filming “Crimson and Clover” with Prince
• 37:58 – Vision for the next creative chapter

Conclusion

Misty Copeland’s farewell from American Ballet Theatre is not merely an ending but the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Through resilience, self-discovery, and dedication to advocacy, she’s transformed not just ballet’s stage but its spirit. Her conversation with Tonya Moseley is a blueprint for legacy, empowerment, and the ongoing work of building a more inclusive, expressive future in the arts.

For listeners, this episode offers wisdom on the power of self-belief, the importance of acknowledging history, and gives a personal window into an icon’s journey as she reinvents both herself and her art form.