It’s the end of an era, and what a powerful, graceful, and unapologetically bold era it’s been.
On October 22, 2025, Misty Copeland will take her final bow with American Ballet Theatre at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City. The Fall Gala marks not just the end of her time as a principal dancer, but the beginning of her next act, one we know will be just as impactful.
From her historic rise as ABT’s first Black female principal dancer to her deep cultural imprint on the arts, Misty has always been more than a ballerina. She’s been a mirror, a megaphone, and a movement all in one.
So let’s talk about what this means for the dance world, for young dancers watching from the wings, and for anyone who ever felt like they didn’t belong at the barre.
A Career That Broke Barriers (and Ballet Norms)
When Misty Copeland was named principal dancer in 2015, she didn’t just make headlines. She redefined what a ballerina could look like, and who ballet was for. Her performances in roles like Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Firebird weren’t just technically breathtaking. They were emotionally charged, culturally resonant, and grounded in a determination to leave the door wide open behind her.
She wasn’t just dancing; she was declaring. Every fouetté, every arabesque, every curtain call was a statement: “You belong here too.”
More Than Just a Dancer
What makes Misty’s retirement news hit so deeply is that her career wasn’t built solely on performance. Misty became a face of possibility. Through books, brand campaigns, TED Talks, and her own foundation work, she’s proven that ballet is not an elite art form reserved for a select few. It’s a language, and she’s spent the last two decades translating it for everyone.
This is a woman who made Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list, wrote a best-selling memoir, and served as an inspiration for young dancers of color around the world. She appeared in Under Armour ads while still taking class in pink tights. Misty showed us how to stand tall, both onstage and off.
Why This Moment Matters
Misty’s final performance isn’t just a goodbye. It’s a celebration. And if you know anything about ABT’s galas, you know it won’t be a quiet exit. But beyond the glitter and applause, her retirement signals a turning point in dance history.
Representation in ballet is still evolving, and Misty’s retirement reminds us that progress doesn’t pause. Now’s the time to continue her work. To amplify underrepresented voices. To keep teaching history in our classes and centering diversity in our casting.
For educators and dancers alike, this is our call to action.
Want to explore how to bring that mission into your own classroom? Check out Why Teaching Tap Dance History Matters: Honoring the Greats and Building a Well-Rounded Dance Education.
Beyond the Barre: Misty Copeland as a Cultural Force
To understand the full weight of Misty Copeland’s impact, you have to step outside the studio.
Misty has been much more than a dancer she’s been a North Star in a world that often overlooks or misunderstands Black women in the arts. Through her platform, she’s cracked open conversations about race, body image, access, and visibility in spaces that have long upheld rigid standards.
She became the first ballerina many people had ever seen who looked like them. Not just in skin tone, but in strength, softness, and stature. She reshaped the public image of a ballerina no longer just delicate and distant, but grounded, powerful, and deeply human.
Her Under Armour campaign turned heads not because it was flashy, but because it was honest. A muscular woman of color speaking to rejection, perseverance, and purpose all set to a voiceover reading a real rejection letter she received. It was ballet, but it was also branding, storytelling, and advocacy rolled into one.
Misty has also become a go-to speaker and author on themes of equity, identity, and empowerment. Her books from her memoir Life in Motion to the children’s picture book Bunheads (a book that I often read to my own daughter) give young readers something most of us never had growing up: a ballerina of color at the center of the story.
She’s worked with nonprofits and national arts organizations to bring more funding and resources into schools and communities that have historically been left behind. Misty doesn’t just talk about change she funds it, builds it, and sustains it.
And let’s not forget her presence in media. From magazine covers and interviews to television specials and documentaries, Misty has helped mainstream the ballet world without compromising her voice or values. She’s walked the line between artist and activist with poise and purpose.
In doing so, she’s widened the lens through which we see not only ballet but also leadership in the arts.
When we talk about Misty Copeland, we’re not just talking about a dancer who made history. We’re talking about a woman who made her platform bigger than the stage and used it to lift others up with her.
Legacy in Motion: What Comes Next for Misty
So, what’s next? Misty hasn’t said exactly, but anyone who’s followed her career knows she won’t be far from the spotlight. Whether it’s mentoring dancers through her foundation, choreographing, producing, or advocating for arts education, her influence will only deepen.
If anything, retirement will probably give her more time to build the world she’s envisioned all along: one where young dancers feel seen, supported, and empowered.
This moment also offers a chance to revisit Misty’s early journey. If you teach dance or work with young artists, her story is an incredible example of what resilience, representation, and opportunity can do. It’s a perfect conversation-starter for your next dance history lesson or mentorship talk.
For those planning lessons around cultural and artistic trailblazers, The Rhythm of History: Enriching Dance Classes with Rich Cultural Heritage is another great read to inspire connection through dance.
A Final Bow, But Never a Final Word
As the curtain falls at Lincoln Center this October, it won’t feel like an ending. If anything, it feels like the turning of a page in a much bigger story, one that Misty helped write, and one that we’re all invited to keep adding to.
We’ll keep teaching the steps, honoring the stories, and making space for the next generation of dancers to dream big, because Misty Copeland showed us exactly how powerful that can be.
And if you’re looking for more ways to honor the cultural contributions of dancers past and present, start with Celebrate Culture and Holidays Through Dance with Our Engaging 5-Day Lesson Plan. It’s a classroom-ready way to keep the legacy alive, one celebration at a time.
So Misty, if you’re reading this: Thank you.
Thank you for dancing like the world was watching. Because we were, and we still are.
Happy Dancing!
Taylor B.
