Trailblazing Ballerina Misty Copeland Retires After 25 Years

On October 22nd, 2025, renowned ballerina Misty Copeland is set to retire from American Ballet Theatre (ABT) after a groundbreaking 25-year career with the company. Copeland, who joined ABT as a teenager, made history in 2015 when she became the first Black female principal dancer in the company's 75-year history.

Copeland's retirement will be marked by a gala evening at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater, where she will perform one last time with ABT. During her time away from the company, Copeland has been raising a young son and continuing her work as an author, with the second volume of her "Bunheads" series released just last month.

While Copeland has not completely closed the door on dancing, she acknowledges that this is the right time for her to move on to the next stage of her career. She plans to focus more on her foundation, which aims to increase diversity and representation in the dance world, including an afterschool program called "Be Bold" designed for young children of color.

Copeland's retirement marks the end of an era, as there will no longer be a Black female principal dancer at ABT. However, the trailblazer remains hopeful that her legacy and continued advocacy will pave the way for greater diversity and inclusion in the ballet community.