Prima Ballerina Misty Copeland has announced her retirement from the American Ballet Theatre this fall after once final gala performance.
The Fall Gala is scheduled for October 22 at the Lincoln Center where she will perform a selection of works from her repertoire. Video tributes and surprise performances have also been planned.
Copeland was 13 when she first began taking ballet lessons and in 2000 she became a part of the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. The following year she joined the ABT corps de ballet.
In 2007, Copeland was promoted to solo dancer; but it was in 2015 when she made history as the first woman of colour to be name the principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre.
A year of firsts for Copeland, 2015 was also the year she made her Broadway debut taking over the role of Ivy Smith in the musical “On the Town”.
A small child at home, the October Gala will mark her first performances in five years.
Copeland issued a statement saying, “I could never have imagined the life ballet would give me. To dance on the world’s greatest stages, with artists I admire so deeply, has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. My time with ABT has shaped me not just as a dancer, but as a person, and given me the platform to reach back and make space for others. This moment isn’t a farewell, it’s a celebration of everything we’ve built together, and a step toward all the work that’s still ahead.”
She established the Misty Copeland Foundation in 2021 to provide children in “under-resourced” areas an opportunity to dance.
The Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre Susan Jaffe spoke on Copeland saying, “Misty is a once-in-a-generation artist whose brilliance transcends the stage. Her legacy at ABT is profound—not only through the roles she’s redefined but also through the lives she’s inspired. Misty’s advocacy for inclusion, equity, and education ensures her impact will resonate far beyond this moment.”
A native of Kansas City, Copeland is the daughter of a former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader.
Her accolades include…
a Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth of the Year Ambassador
was a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition
has an honorary doctorate from the University of Hartford
a 2014 “Dance” Magazine Awards honoree
a 2015 “Glamour” Woman of the Year
won a Best in Dance in Social Media Shorty Award
has two Barbie dolls made in her likeness