Life in Motion

An Unlikely Ballerina

By: Misty Copeland

Narrated by: Lisa Reneé Pitts

"Picture a ballerina in a tutu and toe shoes. What does she look like?"

As the only African-American soloist dancing with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has made history. But when she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, anxious 13-year-old to become a ground­breaking ballerina.

When she discovered ballet, Misty was living in a shabby motel room, struggling with her five siblings for a place to sleep on the floor. A true prodigy, she was dancing en pointe within three months of taking her first dance class and performing professionally in just over a year: A feat unheard of for any classical dancer. But when Misty became caught between the control and comfort she found in the world of ballet and the harsh realities of her own life (culminating in a highly publicized custody battle), she had to choose to embrace both her identity and her dreams, and find the courage to be one of a kind.

With an insider's unique point of view, Misty opens a window into the life of a professional ballerina who lives life center stage: From behind the scenes at her first auditions to her triumphant roles in some of the most iconic ballets. But in this beautifully written memoir, she also delves deeper to reveal the desire and drive that made her dreams reality.

Life in Motion is a story of passion and grace for anyone who has dared to dream of a different life.

©2014 Misty Copeland (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An unexpected page-turner. . . . Her story is an inspiration to anyone-man or woman, black or white-who has ever chased a dream against the odds, and the grace with which she triumphs is an example for us all." ( Booklist, Starred Review)

Heart warming narrative!

What did you love best about Life in Motion?

This is a book that inspires and gives you a sense of great hope.

What did you like best about this story?

It was raw, honest and accessible.

What does Lisa Reneé Pitts bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A great feeling that you are being told a story that matters, by someone who loves to tell stories. Storytelling at its best.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moment in which Misty realizes she is a ballerina, she deserves to be on the stage and that yes, she defied expectations but is now living her dream and serving as a much needed role model to little girls and boys of color around the world.

An inspiration to us all

I very much enjoyed how open and honest Misty was with her life story. She does not run away from her past, she embraces it. Her story makes you feel like you can achieve great things too! This really was for the little brown girls, it caused me to deeply reflect on my own childhood. Going through the journey of Misty's own life she now feels like a close friend.

Good story, terrible narration

Maybe if a novel features the word "artistic" really frequently, you should probably not have a narrator who drops their R's.

Inspiration

Truly an inspirational life. Unimpressed with the reading though. I thought her cadence was odd .

Enjoyable & INSPIRING!

I am a newer fan of Ms. Copeland, and just recently realized she had published a bio. As a child I loved ballet. I'm a HUGE Debbie Allen fan, growing up on weekly doses of the TV show Fame. I wasn't allowed to take ballet with my classmates due to the NY ballet trained teacher telling my strong willed mother that 'black girls weren't made for classical ballet' back in 1974. I would love to believe that if given the opportunity, I would have been as determined. I learned classical piano instead. I loved Misty's relatable honesty & fearless raw-ness. A cautious desire to please, a deep strength yet vulnerability with her laser beam discipline - all of it is beautiful & INSPIRING, especially to a 46 old dreamer. Another BRAVO!

Five Stars

Misty Copeland is open, honest, genuine and inspiring. I highly recommend this book, after listening to it I am now going to listen to it with my 9 year old ballerina in training. This will motivate her to do her personal best and live her best life. This is a book that can be mildly uncomfortable for a white person to listen to but it could not be more honest. There is beauty, talent, class, Grace , poise and elegance in every background and ballet needs to be reflective of that. Thank you Misty!
I love listening to books narrated by Renee.

Inspiring story

I read this book because I’m a mom of a little dancer. I want to tell her Misty’s story and tell her she can push through anything.

Camille L

Appreciating Ballet

I loved this book and Misty Copeland's story. It is a love of ballet.The reader was excellent and expressed Copeland's written story, emotions and experience as if her own, bringing the book to life.

Fascinating Biography, Performance not so good

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I strongly disliked the narration of this book. This is an autobiography, written in 1st person, and I do not think that the voice actor matched the author. She sounded much older than Misty Copeland was at the time she wrote the book. Additionally she over enunciated every word and even added inflection and emphasis in incorrect places. I did not think I would be able to finish the book when I first started listening, but Misty's story hooked me enough to keep going.

Would you be willing to try another one of Lisa Reneé Pitts’s performances?

No

Any additional comments?

As a dancer, I really enjoyed hearing Misty's story. She came from such unlikely circumstances. to become a brilliant ballerina. This book really made me appreciate her much more than I had before.

I love the book,hate the narrator!

I love Misty Copeland and I really wanted to love the book but the narrators voice killed it for me. I think she sounded too mature for anyone to relage to as Misty. She was very(over) dramatic and it was just not the voice of a twenty something young woman!