In 2015, Copeland made history as the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. Copeland took her final bow with American Ballet Theatre in October, after spending years away from performance.
Misty Copeland has been a principal ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre since 2015. She took a break from performing due to COVID-19 and the birth of her son in spring 2022, but she hopes to be back on stage in 2023