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STANDARDS
CCSS: 6.EE.A.2.C, 7.EE.B.3, MP1, MP6
TEKS: 6.3D, 6.7D, 7.3A, 7.3B
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By the Numbers: Misty Copeland
Henry Leutwyler/Contour by Getty Images
When Misty Copeland took her first ballet class at age 13, she had no way of knowing that she’d become one of the most famous ballerinas in the world. Despite starting her career later than most, Copeland began dancing for the prestigious American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in New York City when she was only 17.
From there, her career began a meteoric rise, with Copeland dancing key roles and winning awards. In 2015, Copeland became the first Black female principal dancer in ABT’s 75-year history. Since then, she’s dedicated herself to further diversifying the world of ballet.
Read on to learn more about Misty Copeland. Then plug in the numbers to solve the equation below and reveal a final fact.
32
Copeland’s age when she became a principal dancer at ABT
13
Courtesy Misty Copeland
Age at which Copeland started ballet
2
Peggy Sirota/Trunk Archive
Number of Black principal dancers of the 16 principals currently in ABT: Calvin Royal III and Copeland
62
Julieta Cervantes/The New York Times/Redux
Copeland’s height, in inches
5
Courtesy of G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers (Firebird, Bunheads); Courtesy of Grand Central Publishing (Ballerina Body); Courtesy of Aladdin (Black Ballerinas, Life in Motion)
Number of books Copeland has written, including two children’s books
True Touch Lifestyle/Shutterstock.com (ballerina legs)