Young Women's Leadership Conference: The Next Generation
What does it mean to be a leader? It was one of the many questions posed to young women who attended the Young Women’s Leadership Conference in late February. Leadership, according to legendary dancer Misty Copeland, the first Black woman named as principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history, is about defying barriers and pursuing your passion.
The arts, many of the students observed, can be a powerful vehicle for harnessing leadership skills.
4th year dance student Vivianna Gantt, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
“It was really cool to hear Misty say it—to take hardships as growth opportunities and learn from them,” said dance student Vivianna Gantt from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Gantt said she has learned how to apply skills learned in dance, like communication, determinations, and adaptability, to her everyday life, but that above all else, she believes true leadership is built off empathy, compassion, and collaboration.
“To be a leader you have to have the ability to listen and respect the opinions of others.”
