“Misty is prettier than you, she’s faster than you, she’s thinner than you, she can jump higher than you…but she is you,” explained Septime Webre, creative director of the Washington Ballet, at a news conference on Tuesday. Blunt? Um, yes. True? Also yes–although we’re not sure about that last part. Webre’s point was that the best of ballet should be like watching “the best of yourself” on stage.  The superhero in question here is Misty Copeland, the American Ballet Theatre soloist (and viral video star) who will make her American “Swan Lake” debut at the Kennedy Center. Copeland and Washington Ballet’s Brooklyn Mack, both African American, will dance the two leading roles. The performance is historic. The tickets? Almost all sold out.  We pulled Copeland, who described her fame as “crazy,” to the side at her D.C. press conference just before the onslaught of selfies.  Please tell me you’ve seen “Black Swan.”  I really enjoyed it, but I understood what it was. It was a horror film. I mean I’m a dancer and I knew that it wasn’t supposed to be portraying what we are. The great thing about the movie was that it provoked people to think about ballet, which is always a great thing. But once they open up that conversation, it’s educating them on what ballet is.  So there will be no psychological breakdowns happening in the wings at the Kennedy Center?  [She laughs] Natalie Portman will not be on stage with me. No one’s going to get killed backstage.  What would surprise people about the life of a ballerina?  It’s not as cutthroat as you would think. Once you get into a professional company you spend more time with these people than your own family. I’ve been with American Ballet Theatre for almost 15 years, so it’s not as crazy as people think it. We’re really close friends and we have to be able to get along or you just won’t survive in that atmosphere.  But ‘The Real Ballet Dancers of Swan Lake’ is not a good idea for a reality show?  There is drama. People date within ballet companies and they marry within ballet companies because you spend the most time with these people. You get each other. Dancers tend to stick together.  When you’re not dancing you’re____?  Shopping at Barney’s, Intermix, Bergdorf’s, online. Or I’m eating–  We have to, we’re athletes. That’s something that people don’t really think about. It’s what’s so great about the Under Armour ad because it’s the first time people are seeing ballet dancers as the athletes that we are. We’re meant to make it look effortless on stage. But we dance up to eight hours a day, five to six days a week, so you have to eat to fuel your body.  Your last meal would be ____?  I love fish and I love sushi, but if I’m going to be bad it would probably be something like going to Red Lobster and having a lot of those biscuits.  What makes you really angry?  When people don’t understand me. Like when they assume a certain thing about me or are just not open to hearing what it is I represent or what it is I want to say. It’s easy for people to think I’m an aggressive person because I have a voice and I speak so openly about my experiences.  If you had to explain yourself in your on words what would you say?  What makes you truly happy?  Um [She pauses for less than a second] dancing.  Billionaire Bob Johnson asks a local crowd for cash  ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons to perform at Capitol unveiling of Vaclav Havel bust  VIDEO: Their wish is his command: Confessions of a concierge to the rich and the famous  Even more surreal estate, Party Diary and Love, etc: Sign up for The Reliable Source newsletter. And follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Helena Andrews is the co-author of The Reliable Source. Follow her on Twitter @helena_andrews, and send your hot tips, sightings, and gossip to reliablesource@washpost.com.
Copeland, one of the most famous ballerinas in the country, talks to the Reliable Source about her love of Cheddar Bay biscuits.