Misty Copeland closed out her career as American Ballet Theater's principal ballerina

Misty Copeland/Shutterstock

Misty Copeland has officially retired from the renowned American Ballet Theatre (ABT), taking her final bow last week. She made history as the company’s first Black principal ballerina, a position she held since 2015 after joining ABT in 2000.

An exceptionally accomplished dancer, Copeland has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million from her ballet career. Throughout her time in classical ballet, she authored ten books and founded the Misty Copeland Foundation, which provides dance opportunities to children from all walks of life.

As one of the most sought-after ballerinas over the last two decades, Copeland inspired Barbie to create a collector's doll in her likeness—the Misty Copeland 'Firebird' doll—based on her unforgettable performance in "Firebird." Additionally, she titled her debut book Firebird, a name now synonymous with her stellar career.

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Copeland has shared her story of coming from humble beginnings. She, along with her mother and four siblings, primarily lived out of hotels in San Pedro, California, and faced bouts of homelessness.

Considered a late starter in ballet, Copeland began taking classes at the local Boys & Girls Club at the age of 13. Ballet teacher Cindy Bradley discovered her talent and encouraged her to pursue ballet due to her natural abilities, considering her a prodigy. Copeland’s mother agreed to let her live and train with Bradley. The teacher told People, “I couldn’t just leave her there. I couldn’t leave the most gifted person I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Cindy Bradley & Misty Copeland on the Cover of People Magazine (2018)

Despite having a strong support system from the Bradley family, Copeland faced significant adversity regarding her ethnicity, body type, and whether her abilities fit into the world of classical ballet. However, after two years of training, she became one of California’s top ballet prospects.

In her documentary, A Ballerina's Tale, Copeland stated, “I don’t think that people realize what a feat it is to be a Black woman… If they were to go back and read, they would see that there’s never been a Black principal woman at the Royal Ballet, at the Paris Opera Ballet, at the Kirov Ballet, or at the top companies in the world, including the New York City Ballet. I don’t think people really understand that. I was the only African American woman in a company of 80 dancers… I felt like I was sinking for a while.”

Nevertheless, at 43 years old, Copeland became a trailblazer in the industry over her 25-year career. A plethora of celebrities, including Debbie Allen, Oprah, Cindy Bradley, Iman, her husband Olu Evans, and their son, among others, attended her final performance, A Celebration Honoring Misty Copeland, which was reportedly an encore presentation.

According to People, Copeland announced her plans to retire in June and had not danced in five years before taking the stage last week. The dancer expressed, “It’s been 25 years at ABT, and I think it’s time. It’s time for me to move to the next stage,” in an interview with the Associated Press.

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