Misty Copeland, the pioneering ballerina who broke barriers as the first Black female principal at American Ballet Theatre, concluded her performing career with the company in an emotional farewell gala on Wednesday. The event, held at Lincoln Center in New York, featured tributes from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen, and Copeland performed select pieces including excerpts from “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sinatra Suite.” Despite retiring from the stage, she emphasized her commitment to ongoing efforts in making ballet more inclusive and accessible.
Copeland’s final performance was part of ABT’s fall gala, which also celebrated the company’s 85th anniversary. She danced alongside partners such as Calvin Royal III and Herman Cornejo, and the evening included speeches and film clips honoring her 25-year tenure. The gala was streamed live to a nearby hall with free public access, reflecting Copeland’s dedication to broadening ballet’s audience and ensuring the art form reaches diverse communities.
Her career began unusually late at age 13, but she quickly rose through the ranks, joining ABT’s corps de ballet in 2001. In 2015, she made history by becoming the company’s first Black woman principal dancer, a promotion that was publicly announced due to her significant cultural impact. Throughout her career, Copeland faced challenges related to race, including instances where she was told to lighten her skin and dealt with the pervasive lack of diversity in classical ballet environments.
Offstage, Copeland became a prominent advocate for change, founding the Misty Copeland Foundation to support diversity initiatives such as the “Be Bold” afterschool program for children of color. Her influence extended beyond ballet, with appearances in music videos, best-selling books, and television shows, helping to bring ballet into mainstream consciousness and inspire a wider audience. She also led efforts like the “Let’s Make a Pointe!” petition to push for more inclusive representations in emojis and beyond.
Copeland’s retirement comes at a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts face heightened scrutiny across various sectors. In recent interviews, she expressed concern that her departure leaves ABT without any Black female principal dancers, highlighting the ongoing need for progress within the ballet world. However, she remains optimistic, stating that her work offstage will continue to shape the future of ballet and ensure that the next generation faces fewer obstacles.
The ballerina’s legacy is already evident in the rising number of Black dancers in major companies, such as India Bradley at New York City Ballet, who credits Copeland for paving the way. Copeland’s visibility has not only inspired a new generation of performers but also forced the industry to confront its historical exclusivity and rethink traditional norms. As she moves to the next chapter, her impact ensures that the doors she opened will remain ajar for others to follow and that ballet can evolve into a more representative art form.
In her final words before the performance, Copeland expressed readiness for this transition, affirming that while she bids farewell to ABT, she will never stop dancing or advocating for inclusivity. Her journey from a challenging childhood marked by poverty and homelessness to ballet stardom exemplifies resilience, and her ongoing mission through foundations and public work promises to further transform the art form for years to come, ensuring that ballet becomes a place where everyone truly belongs.