In 2007, Misty Copeland made history by becoming the third African American soloist and first in two decades, at American Ballet Theatre. Born in Kansas, Missouri and raised in San Pedro, California, Misty took her first ballet class at 13, an advanced age to begin this traditional art form. Training at the San Pedro Dance Center, Misty was en pointe within three months. Soon after she starred as Clare in The Chocolate Nutcracker, the Debbie Allen narrated African American version of the Nutcracker.
