Misty Copeland, principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre: "I want to diversify [ballet]. I want people to see and know that a Black girl can be a ballerina in a mainstream White company.”

Misty Copeland is the most famous ballet dancer in the world. Which means that throughout her career, she's had to consistently break down barriers. For background: Misty made history when she became the first Black female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. And now, her reach extends beyond the dance world through her books, philanthropy, and advocacy. Her new children's book “Bunheads” comes out this September.  In this episode, Misty shares how she gained confidence in herself (9:04), her advice for developing relationships with mentors (19:30), and her go-to dance song (34:41).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices