Misty Copeland, first Black female principal dancer, says goodbye to American Ballet Theatre

Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Jocelyn Noveck at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.

Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history, retired Wednesday night at a star-studded gala at Lincoln Center, marking the end of a trailblazing 25-year career that transformed perceptions of diversity in ballet.

• Copeland, 43, became ABT’s first Black female principal dancer in June 2015, a promotion announced at a news conference rather than quietly like other dancers.

• The retirement gala featured speeches from Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen, who praised Copeland for redefining who belongs in ballet.

• Copeland performed for the first time with ABT in five years, having spent the time raising her 3-year-old son Jackson and working on diversity initiatives through her foundation.

• She danced as Juliet alongside Calvin Royal III, who became ABT’s first Black male principal dancer in two decades in 2020.

• When Copeland leaves ABT, there will no longer be a Black female principal dancer at the company, which she acknowledges is “definitely concerning.”

• Copeland came to ballet relatively late at age 13 after growing up in near poverty in San Pedro, California, but quickly excelled and joined ABT in 2001.

• The event celebrated both Copeland’s retirement and American Ballet Theatre’s 85th anniversary, with the performance streamed live to nearby Alice Tully Hall with free public attendance.

• Copeland plans to continue dancing in other contexts and will focus on her diversity work through her “Be Bold” afterschool program and foundation efforts.

READ MORE: Misty Copeland hangs up her pointe shoes after performing for adoring crowd at retirement show