Liputan6.com, Jakarta The ballet world is preparing for a historic and touching moment: legendary ballerina Misty Copeland's final performance as a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT).
This farewell is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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ABT's fall gala will not only mark Copeland's retirement after 25 years, but also celebrate her extraordinary contributions to breaking boundaries in ballet.
This performance also marks Copeland's return to the stage after a five-year hiatus, adding to the emotional depth of this farewell.
The gala will be a stellar celebration featuring Copeland herself, ABT dancers, and prominent figures from across the arts.
A Grand Farewell on the ABT Stage
Misty Copeland's farewell gala will be a highlight of the arts calendar in October 2025.
The event will feature a special performance by Copeland herself, including her personal choice to dance the balcony pas de deux from "Romeo and Juliet" once again, a moment guaranteed to be deeply moving.
In addition to the ballerina's performance, the stage will also be graced by other American Ballet Theatre dancers, as well as prominent figures from the worlds of dance, entertainment, and the arts.
Inspirational speeches and film clips chronicling Copeland's career will also be an integral part of the celebration, paying tribute.
To ensure the event is accessible to a wider audience, there will be a free live simulcast from Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.
Free tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, allowing more people to be a part of this historic moment.
Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey will even serve as honorary co-chairs.
Misty Copeland's Brilliant Career Path
Misty Danielle Copeland, born on September 10, 1982, is a figure who becomes a new inspiration about being a ballerina.
She began ballet studies at the age of 13 and won first place in the Music Center Spotlight Awards at 15.
Copeland's journey with American Ballet Theatre began in September 2000 when she joined the ABT Studio Company.
Just a year later, in April 2001, she became a member of ABT's corps de ballet.
The highlight came on June 30, 2015, when Copeland made history by becoming the first African-American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT's 75-year history.
Throughout her career, Copeland has performed numerous iconic classical and contemporary roles, including the title role in "Firebird" (2012), Gulnare in "Le Corsaire" (2013), and the dual role of Odette/Odile in "Swan Lake" (2014).
She was appointed by President Obama to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition in 2014 and was named to the "Time 100 Most Influential People" list in 2015.
Misty Copeland's Legacy Beyond the Stage
Beyond the ballet stage, Misty Copeland is also known as a New York Times best-selling author, with works such as the memoir "Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina" and the children's book "Firebird."
Copeland, who a decade ago became the first Black female principal dancer in the company's 75-year history, was honored at a star-studded gala at Manhattan's Lincoln Center.
Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen were among those who delivered speeches, with Winfrey saying that Copeland "made me proud to spell my name 'W-O-M-A-N.'"
“Misty didn’t just perform ballet,” Winfrey said of the ballerina who has achieved a unique crossover fame.
“She changed it. She redefined who belongs, who gets to be seen, and who gets to lead.”
In 2022, Copeland established The Misty Copeland Foundation, whose primary program is BE BOLD, which aims to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in dance, particularly ballet.
Copeland also ventured into entrepreneurship, launching the women's athletic apparel line Greatness Wins in 2023, which she co-founded with Derek Jeter and Chris Riccobono.
Her first silent activism film, "Flower," also premiered at the Tribeca Festival that same year.