Misty Copeland, the New York City ballerina who has become the first African-American principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, is inspiring the next generation of ballerinas.

Samiyah Parramore of Clearwater is dancing her way through a full scholarship at the University of Hartford and sees Misty as an inspiration.

"She reminds me of myself," said Parramore. "She started in community center. I did as well -- Artz4Life Academy, and she was able to overcome so many milestones."

Parramore said she plans to make dancing her career, and she's taking to heart advice she got from Misty when she met her earlier this year.

"Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something," Parramore said. "She was like, you may not have people with you, but you have God and you have yourself and you can do anything."

Even during the summer when she's not at the University, Parramore is still dancing.

"In the world, you kinda have to put on a face in front of people, but I feel like on stage, I don't have to," she said. "I can be whoever I wanna be."

"We all have the opportunity to chart our own course and our own path for the future," said Jai Hinson, Executive Director, ArtZ4Life. "And whatever it is she wants to do, we're behind her 100 percent!"

ArtZ4Life is a community based dance company much like the one Copeland started in. It's already produced dancers that have gone to perform with the American Ballet Theatre.