Misty Copeland dazzled Lincoln Center with grace and grit Wednesday night (October 22) as she delivered her final performance for American Ballet Theatre, closing a 24-year chapter that reshaped the face of classical dance.
The Copeland farewell unfolded during ABT’s Fall Gala at the David H. Koch Theater, where the 43-year-old icon took her last bow in her decade-long stint as the company’s first Black female principal dancer.
The evening was filled with tributes, ovations and a crowd that spanned generations and backgrounds—proof of her far-reaching influence.
Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen honored Copeland with emotional speeches, with Winfrey declaring she “didn’t just perform ballet” but “changed it.”
The program featured three performances that showcased Copeland’s range. She opened with the balcony pas de deux from “Romeo and Juliet” alongside Calvin Royal III, ABT’s first Black male principal in over 20 years.
They followed with Kyle Abraham’s “Wrecka Stow,” a contemporary duet, before she closed the night with Twyla Tharp’s “Sinatra Suite” alongside longtime partner Herman Cornejo.
The most personal moment came after the final curtain, when Copeland’s 3-year-old son Jackson walked onstage in a tuxedo and hugged her as gold confetti fell from the rafters.
The gesture spotlighted the five-year break she took from ABT to raise him with husband Olu Evans.
What a beautiful cap off to a historic tenure with the American Ballet Theater. Misty. Copeland !!! Deserving of every flower.
Her son coming out to give her a bouquet is so damn precious 😭 how beautiful ! pic.twitter.com/ou7PX0PHch
— CP (@CPCatastrophe) October 23, 2025
Born in Kansas City and raised in San Pedro, California, Copeland’s road to ballet stardom was anything but traditional. She began dancing at 13 while living in a motel with her mother and siblings.
Despite the late start, she earned scholarships to the San Francisco Ballet School and later joined ABT’s corps de ballet in 2001.
When Misty Copeland was a teen, she, her five siblings, and their mother were living in two rooms at a motel in Gardena, California. Copeland would practice ballet on the railing outside their rooms, imagining it as her private studio. She hadn’t been back in nearly two decades —… pic.twitter.com/o4V76735J1
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 22, 2025
Her 2015 promotion to principal dancer came not with a quiet memo but a press conference, a move that reflected her celebrity status.
It followed her acclaimed debut in “Swan Lake” at the Metropolitan Opera House, which drew a more diverse audience than the company had ever seen.
Since launching the Misty Copeland Foundation in 2022, she has focused on expanding access to dance education for children of color through her “Be Bold” afterschool program.
The initiative aims to remove barriers that have long kept ballet out of reach for many underserved communities.
Copeland’s publishing work also continues. Her second installment of the “Bunheads” children’s book series dropped in September, and her memoir “The Wind at My Back” remains a staple in conversations about inclusion in the arts.
Her retirement leaves ABT without a Black female principal dancer for the first time since 2015. Copeland called the situation “concerning” but expressed hope that her foundation will fuel long-term change.
“There’s only so much that visual representation can do,” she told The Associated Press in June. “I feel like it’s the perfect timing for me to be stepping into a new role, and hopefully still shaping and shifting the ballet world and culture.”
The night ended with the traditional ballet send-off—bouquets from colleagues, mentors and loved ones. Copeland curated much of the gala herself, ensuring her final performance reflected her vision and legacy.
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