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Little, Brown is publishing two books by celebrated American ballet dancer, Misty Copeland.
The first book, Ballerina Body, will include ballet-influenced exercise routines, motivational techniques and healthy meal plans, inspired by Copeland’s years of experience training at the barre.
Sphere non-fiction editorial director Hannah Boursnell acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in Ballerina Body from Lorella Belli at Lorella Belli Literary Agency on behalf of Steve Troha and Melissa Sarver White at Folio Literary Management.
It was acquired in the US by Karen Murgalo at Grand Central Life and Style. Sphere and Grand Central will both publish in March 2017.
Copeland commented: "There has been a shift in recent years in which women no longer desire the bare bones of a runway model. Standards have changed: what women do want is [a] long, toned, powerful body with excellent posture. This is the sum of a lifetime of experiences gained through listening to my body and finding what works for it."
In 2015 Copeland became the first black ballerina to dance the role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake for the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and in June she was promoted to the role of principal for ABT. She has also been listed as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People, one of Vanity Fair’s best dressed and made her Broadway debut in On the Town.
The second book Sphere is publishing is Copeland’s bestselling memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina, originally published in the US in 2014. Life in Motion will be published as an e-book in March and a paperback in May 2016.
Boursnell said: "Misty Copeland is an extraordinary dancer and a genuine role model. I’m thrilled that we’re making her wonderful memoir, Life in Motion, available to UK readers for the first time, and so excited about Ballerina Body, which promotes a healthy diet and strong physique and perfectly taps into the growing popularity of ballet barre classes."