AMAZING BALLERINA MISTY COPELAND TAKES HER LAST LAP ON STAGE AT LINCOLN CENTER
Renowned dancer Misty Copeland has departed from her work with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) after 25 years. After a five-year break from the stage, Copeland celebrated the milestone with a farewell show on October 22 at Lincoln Centre in New York. Copeland posted on Instagram, saying, "After 25 years with ABT, I took my final bow surrounded by the company and community that have impacted my life and career." As a member of the Board of Trustees, I am incredibly proud to maintain my relationship with ABT while assisting the upcoming generation of storytellers and dancers who will carry on this art form's legacy.
In 2000, Copeland joined ABT's junior company, the ABT Studio Company. In 2001, he transferred to ABT and became a member of the corps de ballet. In 2015, she became the first African-American woman to be elevated to main dancer in ABT's 85-year history, having previously been promoted to soloist in 2005. Since then, Copeland has been a strong supporter of expanding inclusivity, diversity, and representation in the dance business. This is demonstrated by the Misty Copeland Foundation, which she established in 2021.
In an interview with The New York Times earlier this year, Copeland stated, "My entire career is evidence that when you have variety, people come together and want to understand each other and want to be a community together." "So many young Black and brown folks were unaware that they could enter Lincoln Centre."
"It was so crucial for youngsters growing up and witnessing somebody like Misty," said Susan Jaffe, artistic director of ABT. She has truly been a trailblazer with her publications, speeches, and even sponsorships.
Copeland paid tribute to that heritage in her final performance, which included remarks, dances with her fellow ABT peers, movie snippets, and an unexpected onstage appearance by her husband and kid. A sold-out crowd of over 2,500 people attended, including Oprah Winfrey, Debbie Allen, Jim Parsons, and Phylicia Rashad. Copeland performed a variety of acts for the audience, including a pas de deux from Romeo & Juliet and choreography set to Frank Sinatra's songs "That's Life" and "My Way."
Nevertheless, Copeland has admitted that more needs to be done. Now that she has left ABT, the company no longer has a Black female principal dancer. This is one of the reasons Copeland is shifting her focus to her nonprofit organisation of the same name, which aims to lower the cost and increase accessibility to ballet, particularly for young people. Copeland told AP, "I guess I've just reached a point in my career where there's just so much I can do on a stage." "I think the time is right for me to take on a new role while hopefully continuing to influence and change the ballet industry and culture."