Trailblazer Misty Copeland retires from American Ballet Theatre

Misty Copeland took one last spin on the dance floor Wednesday, performing for an adoring crowd and showered with glitter and bouquets as she retired from American Ballet Theatre after a trailblazing career in which she became an ambassador for diversity in an overwhelmingly white art form

Misty Copeland took one last spin on the dance floor Wednesday, performing for an adoring crowd and showered with glitter and bouquets as she retired from American Ballet Theatre after a trailblazing career in which she became an ambassador for diversity in an overwhelmingly white art form.

Copeland, who a decade ago became the first Black female principal dancer in the company’s 75-year history, was feted at a star-studded gala at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center. Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen were among those who gave speeches of praise, with Winfrey saying that Copeland “makes 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 a way, the gala was both a return and a departure for Copeland, 43. She was dancing with the company for the first time in five years. During that time, Copeland has been raising a son, Harrison, with her husband. The 3-year-old came onstage to hug his mother during curtain calls, wearing a tuxedo.

Misty Copeland attends the American Ballet Theatre's Fall Gala in New York on Wednesday.Charles Sykes / Charles Sykes/Invision/APCopeland has also been continuing her career as an author — the second volume of her “Bunheads” series appeared in September — and working to increase diversity in the dance world with her namesake foundation, including “Be Bold,” an afterschool program designed for young children of color.