Corrections_Today_Summer_2024_Vol.86_No.2

shyness and her discovery of her talent for move ment. This talent was recognized by a local ballet teacher who started her on her journey at the age of 13. By the time she was 17, she was in New York City with the American Ballet Company. “I wasn’t really aware of the fact it was so rare to be a Black girl in the field of ballet and it was kind of a shock when I moved to New York City and joined the one of the top companies and I was the only Black woman,” she recounted. President Robinson asked about how Misty keeps motivated in the face of long odds or dif ficult challenges.

“I feel like I’ve always looked at my career as a journey. I knew the ballet world is not something that happens overnight. Yes, I had a fast trajec tory but it’s something that takes time. You have to build this muscle memory, this consistency. this stamina.” They moved on to a discussion about mentor ing and how important it is to have a support system in place as you follow your career track. “I would say having a small but mighty group that’s always been there, people I could turn to when I felt I can’t do it on my own. That’s been key for me throughout my career,” she recalled. →

Summer 2024 | Corrections Today

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