Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina

"Reads as a modern day Cinderella story…this memoir is an inspirational read — especially for aspiring dancers." – JET Magazine

"Although ballet fans never lack for darlings, rarely does a dancer become an old-fashioned star...her path to becoming a star ballerina has been as dramatic, unlikely, and hinged on coincidence as the plots of most ballets." – Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker

"[Parts] the curtain on the ballet’s central illusion: that it is empowering for the female dancers at its centre. Providing a behind-the-scenes look at the glory and gore of ballet...you find yourself rooting for her." – Deidre Kelly, The Globe and Mail (Canada)

"An unexpected page-turner...Her story is an inspiration to anyone — man or woman, black or white — who has ever chased a dream against the odds, and the grace with which she triumphs is an example for us all." – Booklist (Starred Review)

A bestselling and prize-winning memoir by African-American ballerina Misty Copeland, Life in Motion is the vividly told story of her journey to the world-class American Ballet Theatre — and delves into the harrowing family conflicts that nearly drove her away from ballet as a thirteen-year-old prodigy.

Determination meets dance in this New York Times bestselling memoir by the history-making ballerina Misty Copeland, recounting the story of her journey to become the first African-American principal ballerina at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. When she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, underprivileged, and anxious thirteen-year-old to become one of America’s most groundbreaking dancers. A true prodigy, she was attempting in months roles that take most dancers years to master. 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, 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 passion, Misty opens a window into the life of an artist who lives life center stage, from behind the scenes at her first classes to her triumphant roles in some of the world’s most iconic ballets. A sensational memoir as “sensitive” and “clear-eyed” (The Washington Post) as her dancing, Life in Motion is a story of passion, identity and grace for anyone who has dared to dream of a different life.

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.