American Ballet Theatre's 1st African-American principal ballerina Misty Copeland talks move to Broadway

Misty Copeland made history this summer when she became the American Ballet Theatre's fist African-American principal ballerina. And now, the curtain opens on a new frontier for the dancer.

On Tuesday night, she makes her Broadway debut in the musical "On the Town." But the transition is not as easy as you might think.

"It's definitely an extremely different form of dance," she said. "And just because I'm a professional ballerina doesn't mean I'm going to be good at this type of movement."

Copeland is at the top of her game, named as one of the 100 most influential people in America by Time Magazine, so why take the risk?

"As an artist, I think it's important to grow and challenge yourself," she said. "If you want to grow and stay at the top of your game."

"On the Town" tells the story of three sailors on leave in New York City and the three women they meet. Copeland's character is like her, a dancer.

"So I don't think I'm doing anything that's stepping so far to the left of what I'm capable of," she said.

But Copeland was not one of those who grew up singing in the shower and dreaming of Broadway.

"Being a shy child, I don't think I was singing anything in the shower," she said. "(I was) debilitatingly shy."

She found solace in dance, and before that, in the music of Mariah Carey.

"She was beautiful, and I loved her voice," she said. "And whenever I heard her music, I wanted to create movement...and being bi-racial, which she is and so am I, i think there was something I was just drawn to."

Copeland grew up in California but lives in the city now, which only serves to make this experience more meaningful.

"It's a privilege to be a part of this world," she said. "And something I never thought I'd be a part of."

Copeland's two week run will close out the show, which will shutter after 28 previews and 368 regular performances.