Councilman Joe Buscaino, Cindy Bradley, Misty Copeland, and Wolf Bradley. Kelcey Fisher’s mural of Misty Copeland is behind them. Photo by David Fairchild
America’s favorite ballerina returns to where it all started
Misty Copeland will soon be stooped over with all the awards and accolades she’s garnered during her professional career as a ballerina. Not only is the 33-year-old Copeland the first African-American to be named a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, but venerable Barbara Walters anointed her one of the ten most fascinating people of 2015 and Time magazine decreed her as being among the 100 most influential people in the world.
Last Monday afternoon, San Pedro unveiled “Misty Copeland Square,” which is actually the intersection of 13th Street and Pacific Avenue, adjacent to San Pedro City Ballet where Copeland honed and finessed her wondrous skills.
The ceremony preceding the unveiling was held in the ballet school’s parking lot, the backdrop a newly painted mural by Kelcey Fisher, utilizing photos of Copeland by Brad Trent. Copeland thanked the artist, saying, “I never imagined I would see so many of me so big, and for it to be on these walls where it all started for me.”
The event, which was a bit ragged and got off to a late start under dark skies, was officiated by Councilman Joe Buscaino. He acknowledged the hardships Copeland went through as a teenager, which in large part was the tug of war between Copeland’s mother and the ballet company’s Cindy Bradley, the latter being the one who early on spotted Copeland’s potential for greatness. During her brief remarks Bradley turned to her former student and said, “From the first time I taught you, Misty, I knew you were special, and that if you worked hard there would be a great future for you… You were a beautiful, quiet little girl with so much heart, and you became a member of our family.”
And she meant that literally, having brought Copeland into her home, to live with her and her husband (and ballet school co-founder) Patrick and their young son, Wolf. Later, at the Warner Grand Theatre where Copeland taught a special Master Class, Patrick said that he still remembered those ten words spoken by his wife that greeted him long ago: “I’m home. Misty’s here. She’s going to live with us.”
“You’ve made us so proud,” Cindy Bradley continued, “like the woman you became, the dancer you are; and with your strong voice you are changing the world. We are grateful to you for giving back to the children of our community by coming home and supporting the Mistys of the future.”
Copeland, now living in New York City, is a genuine star, immensely talented and known throughout the country. But this little homecoming clearly meant something special to her in that this is where she went to school (Dana Middle School; Point Fermin; San Pedro High) and studied dance (The Boys and Girls Club of San Pedro; San Pedro City Ballet). She greeted old friends and familiar faces in the crowd that had come to pay homage to one of their own.
“Growing up in the atmosphere that I grew up in,” Copeland told her admirers, “San Pedro was the only place I ever think of as home… I always give credit to this incredible, small, warm community that made me the person that I am today. I have to thank you, Cindy and Patrick and Wolf, for making me into the woman that I am, for introducing me to ballet, and for giving me a path and platform to change not only my life but so many little brown girls’ lives.”
Copeland has been an inspiration to many young and aspiring ballerinas, regardless of color, size or shape, and to have her come out and acknowledge her roots was an event to be remembered for a long time.
As Councilman Buscaino phrased it, Copeland “is back home to give back to the place that was both her safety net and her springboard, the San Pedro City Ballet.”
The Bradleys, Cindy and Patrick, have deserved this moment for a very long time.
