Misty Copeland on bringing inclusivity to the world of dance

The Paley Impact event Choosing to Challenge: How Women Are Leading the Way featured a panel of prominent women from around the world and across public policy, sports, business, entertainment and culture. In this clip Misty Copeland speaks about the women on the panel being an example for her and how she uses her platform to try and bring inclusivity to the world of dance.

Video Transcript

ALICIA MENENDEZ: Misty Copeland, with your envious posture. I see you nodding, so I know that this is in some way resonating with you.

MISTY COPELAND: Yes, absolutely. First of all, it's such an honor to be, to be on this panel, and it's incredible to be able to look at the careers of so many of you that have paved the way for me to be here, whether it's dancing, or acting, or as an athlete. You know, I think that it's, it's just, it's been important for me to have these examples so that coming into, you know, not really having had a blueprint for what I'm doing and, and will continue to do, it's amazing just to have these examples that are set for me in the way that I approach my own career.

You know, even taking the leap from, from being a ballerina, but stepping outside of that and, you know, with the endorsement deals and, and the reach that I've been so fortunate to have, you know, with this platform, to reach more than just the classical ballet world. You know, being a woman, it's difficult to do. Being a Black woman, it's difficult to do.

And you know, I think about being taken in with Under Armor as an athlete, and what a big deal it was to be a woman, and to be a Black woman, and to be a ballerina in that space, and I understood the importance of it. And just taking these opportunities to use my voice and use this moment in time to spread the word of what it is I want to do to bring dance to more people, to make it more inclusive. But it wouldn't be possible without all of these people here on this panel, and so many before me. And to me that's just a part of my purpose, I think, is to give back to those who came before me and to set a good example for the future of our youth.