Dancer Misty Copeland shares her life story with students
Emotion overtook Kathryn Kearney ’17 as, with tears streaming down her cheeks, she stepped up to the table to meet Misty Copeland. “You’ve inspired me to start dancing again,” the 22-year-old told the famed ballerina, who smiled warmly and thanked Kearney as she handed her an autographed copy of her book, “Ballerina Body: Dancing and Eating Your Way to a Leaner, Stronger, and More Graceful You,” as part of Copeland’s visit to the Harvard campus. Dabbing her eyes, Kearney tried to explain her incredulity. Her mother had purchased five Misty Copeland Barbie dolls when they came out last year, and seeing the real-life inspiration for the doll gave the College senior, who is concentrating in social anthropology and Theater, Dance & Media, a sense of affirmation. Copeland’s story had helped her overcome own struggles. “I quit ballet when I was a teen because being a black ballerina was painful and degrading. It means...