Ballerina, Author, Speaker. Location: The Mermaid Inn, New York City, NY Misty Copeland is an American ballet dancer for American Ballet Theatre. She became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the ABT's 75 year history. Despite starting at the age of 13, Misty's journey to prodigy and ballet stardom has been a long and arduous one. Fighting body issues and pressure to conform, Misty faced much opposition as she blazed a trail in the dancing world. At her favorite restaurant in Manhattan, The Mermaid Inn, Misty shares her journey from homeless youth to child ballerina to one of the most celebrated dancers in the world. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. As she steps her way into finding her voice, Misty shares some of her most hard-earned wisdom and insights over her favorite meal and offers advice for any young creative.