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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 25 March 2017
Misty Copeland’s next leap: Giving us all better bodies

JOCELYN NOVECK way. She includes detailed FOOD
AP National Writer exercises — classic ballet “We all have a difficult re-
NEW YORK (AP) — If you’ve moves, starting on the floor lationship with food. Espe-
ever binged on a box of — and also meal plans and cially in America where
doughnuts — yep, the favorite recipes. we have so much access
whole blessed thing — bal- On a recent morning, Co- to quantity. We were on
lerina Misty Copeland can peland sat down for an in- food stamps for most of
relate. She’s done it too, terview after several hours my childhood, so we were
lots. of dance class at Steps on finding food to eat to sur-
No, really. Broadway near her Man- vive, it wasn’t about the
“I used to bury my hurt in hattan apartment — a typi- best and healthiest food.
a box of Krispy Kremes,” cal start to a day that can So when I became a
the dancer says in her new sometimes involve 12 hours dancer, I pretty much was
book, “Ballerina Body,” in of training, rehearsals and eating whatever I wanted.
which she aims to set us performance. (Her remarks Once my body changed,
on the right path to better were edited for length and that’s when I really started
bodies — if not quite one clarity.) to evaluate what I was
like hers (and of course not WHY THE NEW BOOK? putting into my body. I cut
one like hers!), then the “Every woman struggles out meat six or seven years
best bodies we can have. with their body at some ago. I’m a pescatarian.
Which, she says, is enough, point, especially as a That works for me; it may
because recognizing that dancer. (Also) I’ve been not work for everyone. I
your own body is perfect approached about what I eat sweets in moderation,
for you and just needs fine- eat, what other forms of ex- and allow myself a glass
tuning — something it took ercise I do outside of class. of prosecco or wine. I’m
her years to realize her- How do I mentally and looking at what I put in my
self — is the first big step. emotionally stay strong in body as a lifelong nutrition-
But before she got there, a field like this? So I felt like al state — it’s not about a
there was plenty of self- I needed to write about diet.”
hatred. And it didn’t help, this ... also just debunking In this March 21, 2017 photo, Misty Copeland, first African-Amer- WHAT’S A BALLERINA’S TYP-
during those first tough these awful stereotypes ican female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, ICAL DAY?
years as a ballerina in New attributed to ballerinas, poses during an interview at Steps on Broadway dance school “We’re in class at 10:15. An
in New York.
York, that she lived near a having eating disorders Associated Press hour and a half every morn-
Krispy Kreme. “I would get and not really being ath- ing. Even if we’re not in re-
a whole box of sugar-crust- letes. We work just as hard it wasn’t until I stepped a deep dark hole, saying hearsals, we still take class
ed pastries delivered to my as athletes, if not harder, into ballet class that it was ‘I can’t have carbs’ and ‘I every morning to keep our
door,” she says. “And I’d sit because we are also ac- like, ‘Wow, you have the can’t have sweets.’” instrument fine-tuned. Re-
on my couch and eat the tresses and actors onstage. perfect balance and phy- ON THE RIGHT MINDSET hearsals start at noon. We
whole thing.” We’re not competing to sique for ballet.’ And so I “I think it’s important to usually go straight through
Now, of course, Copeland win, but we’re competing became used to that. And feel comfortable with who from noon to 7. And that’s
is not only one of the most to be ourselves, our best then I went through puber- you are, no matter where during rehearsal period.
famous ballerinas in the selves. Everyone can ben- ty and my body changed. you’re starting from. The During our biggest perfor-
world — and the first black efit from that kind of struc- It’s not talked about really mental discipline is so much mance period, spring sea-
female principal dancer at ture in their lives.” openly, but every danc- a part of it, feeling strong, son, we’re working six days
American Ballet Theatre — ON BODY IMAGE er goes through ups and feeling in control. And just a week, until 11 at night.
but has crossed over into “I never felt beautiful. In downs in terms of being out focusing on the journey It’s a lot; people don’t re-
mainstream pop culture school I was really short of shape. We need to treat and feeling good about ally realize it when they just
fame like no other. Her best- and really thin and I had our bodies like an instru- yourself. I want this book to see this beautiful product
selling book, “Life in Mo- really big feet and this tiny ment, and that’s a huge be for everyone... for some- onstage. And that’s why
tion,” was a memoir, but in little head, and long arms part of it, just finding a bal- one who has never taken a we’re working so hard,
her new book she seeks to and really big hands, and ance and not depriving dance class, for the mom to produce this effortless
impart some of the wisdom felt like, this isn’t what soci- yourself, finding things you or the college student.” beautiful performance.q
that helped her along the ety views as beautiful. And enjoy and not going down COMING TO TERMS WITH

‘Hidden Figures’ author Shetterly

receives literary prize

CLEVELAND (AP) — An au- women mathematicians to for his poetry collection
thor whose book was the the NASA space program. “Olio,” Peter Ho Davies for
basis for the Oscar-nomi- Best-selling novelist Isabel his novel “The Fortunes”
nated movie “Hidden Fig- Allende has received a life- and Katan Mahajan for his
ures” has won an award for time achievement award. novel “The Association of
writing literature that pro- Allende’s novels include Small Bombs,” a National
motes diversity and con- “The House of the Spirits.” Book Award finalist last fall.
fronts racism. Shetterly and Allende were The Anisfield-Wolf Book
Margot Lee Shetterly’s among five winners of the Awards were established
book and the namesake Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards in 1935 and are pre- In this Feb. 11, 2017 file photo, Margot Lee Shetterly arrives at
movie are about the contri- announced Thursday. Also sented by the Cleveland the 48th annual NAACP Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic
butions of a team of black cited were Tyehimba Jess Foundation.q Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif.
Associated Press