Ballerina Misty Copeland: New York Times Bestselling Author of The Wind At My Back

6:30pm Reception

7pm Event Start Time

Please join us for this exciting in-person book event featuring Misty Copeland, acclaimed Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theater and noted author, with her latest book titled The Wind at My Back: Resilience, Grace and Other Gifts from my Mentor, Raven Wilkinson. The Wind at My Back tells the story of two unapologetically Black ballerinas, their friendship, and how they changed each other—and the dance world—forever. In the book, Misty Copeland also shares her own struggles with racism and exclusion in her pursuit of this dream career and honors the women like Raven who paved the way for her but whose contributions have gone unheralded. She celebrates the connection she made with her mentor, the only teacher who could truly understand the obstacles she faced, beyond the technical or artistic demands.

Misty Copeland began her ballet studies at the late age of thirteen and joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company in September 2000, joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2001, and in August 2007 became the company’s second African American female Soloist and the first in two decades. In June 2015, Misty was promoted to principal dancer, making her the first African American woman to ever be promoted to the position in the company’s 75-year history. She is the author of the bestselling memoir Life in Motion, Ballerina Body, Black Ballerinas, and two picture books including Firebird and Bunheads.

Signed copies of her book will be available for purchase at the event or in advance at Elm Street Books.