Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater (ABT), retired from the company with a final performance on Wednesday. The ballerina performed at Lincoln Center in New York City during ABT’s fall gala in front of a sold-out crowd.

Misty Copeland’s final performance with the American Ballet Theater

For her final show with the company, Copeland danced as Juliet, as Calvin Royal III, one of the first Black male principal dancers at ABT, danced as Romeo, according to the Associated Press via NPR. Together, Copeland and Royal performed “Wrecka Stow” by Kyle Abraham. Later on in the show, Copeland performed Twyla Tharp’s “Sinatra Suite” with her dancing partner Herman Cornejo. Dancers performed excerpts of ballet in her honor, and she bid farewell with glittery confetti, flowers and hugs on stage.

“It’s been 25 years at ABT, and I think it’s time,” Copeland told the Associated Press in June. “It’s time for me to move to the next stage.”

“You know, I’ve become the person that I am today, and have all the opportunities I have today, because of ballet, (and) because of American Ballet Theatre,” she added. “I feel like this is me saying ‘thank you’ to the company. So it’s a farewell. (But) it won’t be the end of me dancing. … Never say never.”

In 2001, Copeland joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet and became a soloist six years later. In 2015, she was promoted to principal dancer and debuted her role starring as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Misty Copeland was the first Black female principal dancer in the American Ballet Theater’s 75-year history

Copeland received words of praise from Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen as they attended Wednesday’s gala.

“Misty didn’t just perform ballet,” Winfrey said. “She changed it. She redefined who belongs, who gets to be seen, and who gets to lead.”

Allen praised Copeland, saying she had “helped to redefine the face of ballet.”

Allen continued, “She’s inspired millions of people around the world and hopefully, American Ballet Theatre will not wait another 50 years before they have another beautiful Black principal dancer.”

Misty Copeland has used her stardom to promote diversity and change

Copeland’s foundation, Be Bol,d offers after-school programs for children of color. She also released the second volume of her Bunheads book series in September.

Now that Copeland has left her role at ABT, there is no longer a Black female principal dancer at the company.

“It’s definitely concerning,” Copeland told the Associated Press. “I think I’ve just gotten to a place in my career where there’s only so much I can do on a stage. There’s only so much that visual representation … can do. 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.”

She added that working toward diversity, equity and inclusion is particularly difficult but important at this time.

“It’s a difficult time,” Copeland said. “And I think all we can really do is keep our heads down and keep doing the work. There’s no way to stop the people that feel passionate about this work. We will continue doing it.”

American Ballet Theater

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