10/23/2025
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Misty Copeland took one last spin on the dance floor Wednesday, performing for an adoring crowd and showered with glitter and bouquets as she retired from American Ballet Theatre after a trailblazing career in which she became an ambassador for diversity in an overwhelmingly white art form.
Though Copeland has not closed the door on dancing altogether, it’s clear an era is ending. She is continuing her career as an author and working to increase diversity in the dance world with her namesake foundation, including “Be Bold,” an afterschool program designed for young children of color.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Copeland acknowledged that it’s striking that when she leaves ABT, there will no longer be a Black female principal dancer at the company.
“It’s definitely concerning,” Copeland said. “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.”
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