Misty Copeland Thanks San Pedro City Ballet Director at Black Girls Rock! Awards

Ballet star and San Pedro native Misty Copeland, the first African-American soloist in decades at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, thanked San Pedro City Ballet Director Cynthia Bradley in her acceptance speech at the third annual Black Girls Rock! Awards in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.

Copeland, who was discovered by Bradley at the Boys and Girls Club of San Pedro, where she took her first ballet class in socks and gym clothes, was a prodigy who was catapulted to the American Ballet Theatre at age 17 after only four years of study (she was first offered a spot at 16, but declined it to finish her senior year at San Pedro High School).

The 31-year-old was promoted to soloist at American Ballet Theatre in 2007 and hopes to ultimately become the first-ever African-American principal dancer in the company. She regularly mentors young African-American dancers and speaks at Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country. Copeland received the Young, Gifted and Black Award from the nonprofit Black Girls Rock!, which she works with.