Misty Copeland Permanently Changed Ballet and The Arts. Now She’s Ready for Her Next Challenge

October 31, 2025

Misty Copeland, the groundbreaking ballerina who became American Ballet Theatre's first Black woman principal dancer, is retiring after a distinguished career marked by both artistic excellence and social advocacy. Her final performance at a Fall Gala will feature tributes from Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen, with ABT offering free tickets to a simulcast for those unable to afford the $5,000 gala admission. Copeland's career, which began unusually late at age 13, broke numerous barriers as she rose through ABT's ranks while simultaneously becoming a cultural icon through collaborations with Prince, a bestselling memoir, and television appearances.

Who is affected

Misty Copeland (retiring ballerina)
American Ballet Theatre (her company)
Susan Jaffe (ABT's artistic director)
Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen (providing tributes)
Kyle Abraham (choreographing new piece)
India Bradley (recently promoted soloist at New York City Ballet)
Theresa Ruth Howard (founder of MobBallet organization)
Sarah L. Kaufman (dance critic commenting on her impact)
Black ballerinas across the country
Dance Theatre of Harlem (mentioned as context for Black ballet history)
Young aspiring dancers of color
Ballet audiences and the broader ballet community

What action is being taken

ABT is honoring Copeland with a Fall Gala on Wednesday
Copeland is performing excerpts from "Romeo and Juliet" and "Sinatra Suite" plus a world premiere piece
ABT is offering hundreds of free tickets to a live simulcast at Alice Tully Hall
Copeland continues her work through the Misty Copeland Foundation to make ballet more affordable and accessible

Why it matters

Copeland's retirement marks the end of an era for a ballerina who fundamentally changed professional ballet's landscape regarding racial diversity and accessibility. Her rise to principal dancer at ABT came during a critical period when Black representation in ballet had significantly diminished following Dance Theatre of Harlem's financial hiatus, making her visibility particularly impactful. Her prominence forced major ballet companies to reconsider their lack of diversity and actively consider Black ballerinas for higher ranks, opening doors that had previously been closed. Beyond breaking barriers on stage, Copeland used her platform to address systemic issues like the lack of skin-tone-appropriate dancewear and the prohibitive costs of ballet training, creating lasting structural changes in the art form. Her legacy is already visible in the increasing number of Black ballerinas achieving "firsts" at major companies, though her work highlights how much progress still remains to be made.

What's next

Copeland stated she will continue to be "committed to opening doors, creating space, and making ballet a place where everyone belongs" after retiring from the stage. However, no specific next steps or future projects are explicitly stated in the article.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint