Misty Copeland Retires as American Ballet Theatre's First Black Female Principal Dancer

Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre (ABT), has retired after a trailblazing 25-year career marked by breaking barriers and advocating for diversity in ballet. Her farewell gala at Lincoln Center featured performances of iconic ballets like Romeo and Juliet and Sinatra Suite, and was attended by notable figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen, who praised her transformative impact on ballet and representation. Copeland has spent the last five years away from the stage focusing on raising her son and advancing her mission to increase diversity in dance through the Misty Copeland Foundation and her Bunheads book series. She emphasized that her career proves the power of diversity to unite communities and expressed concern about the lack of Black female principal dancers at ABT following her departure. The farewell gala was also made accessible to the public and streamed to students in her foundation's programs, underscoring her ongoing commitment to inclusion and inspiring future generations. Though retiring from performance, Copeland continues her advocacy and artistic contributions, signaling a new chapter beyond her dancing career.