Martha Graham

In 2015, Copeland made history as the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre (ABT), where she recently took ehr final bow on Oct. 22, 2025. Known for her artistry and athleticism, she has performed lead roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Firebird. Offstage, she continues to champion diversity and accessibility in ballet through her foundation, The Misty Copeland Foundation. She additionally founded Life in Motion Productions, a production company with a mission to expose audiences to inspiring and entertaining art and culture-based stories.