After a five-year hiatus from the American Ballet Theatre stage, Principal Dancer Misty Copeland will return for one night only to take her final bow with the company.
Recognized as being ABT’s first Black female Principal Dancer, Copeland will once again perform at David H. Koch Theater at New York City‘s Lincoln Center on October 22, 2025, the evening of the Fall Gala.
The celebration will feature works from Copeland’s repertoire since joining ABT in 2000 as well as video tributes and guest appearances from influential members of the worldwide dance and entertainment communities.
“Misty is a once-in-a-generation artist whose brilliance transcends the stage,” said Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre.
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.”
Misty Copeland’s 25-year Career at American Ballet Theatre
Misty Copeland joined the ABT Studio Company in September 2000 and was promoted to the corps de ballet just seven months later. In August 2007 she moved up to Soloist before reaching the highest rank in the company in 2015.
During her two-and-a-half decade career with ABT, audiences watched Copeland dance lead roles in ballets choreographed by some of the most renowned dance makers in the 20th and 21st centuries. Some even created parts for her including the Spanish Dance in Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker and Fairy Fleur de farine (Wheat flower) in his The Sleeping Beauty.
“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.“
– Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland’s impact reaches far beyond being a dancer; she is also a New York Times best-selling author, film producer, and founder of The Misty Copeland Foundation.
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Featured Photo of Misty Copeland in Swan Lake. Photo for Queensland Performing Arts Centre by Darren Thomas.
