Trailblazing Ballerina Misty Copeland's Final Performance Revealed After Retirement Announcement

American Ballet Theatre’s Principal Dancer, Misty Copeland, is taking her last bow.

After a five-year hiatus, Copeland is group to return nan shape for a last capacity connected Oct. 22, 2025, for a nighttime aptly titled “A Celebration Honoring Misty Copeland.” Taking spot astatine nan David H. Koch Theater astatine Lincoln Center, nan nighttime will see performances by Copeland and different dancers. There will besides beryllium speeches and video montages of Copeland complete nan years. 

Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey will service arsenic honorary chairs that evening, the Associated Press reported. 

On nan charismatic American Ballet Theatre’s Instagram page, Copeland was remembered arsenic a “once-in-a-generation” talent by Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre.

“Misty is simply a once-in-a-generation creator whose brilliance transcends nan stage,” Jaffe said, per nan Instagram post. “Her bequest astatine ABT is profound—not only done nan roles she’s redefined but besides done nan lives she’s inspired. Misty’s defense for inclusion, equity, and acquisition ensures her effect will resonate acold beyond this moment.”

“It’s been 25 years astatine ABT, and I deliberation it’s time,” Copeland said successful a connection to nan AP astir her retirement. “It’s clip for maine to move to nan adjacent stage.”

She added, “You know, I’ve go nan personification that I americium today, and person each nan opportunities I person today, because of ballet, (and) because of American Ballet Theatre. I consciousness for illustration this is maine saying convey you to nan company. So it’s a farewell. (But) it won’t beryllium nan extremity of maine dancing. … Never opportunity never.”

PEOPLE reached retired to Copeland's squad for remark and did not instantly perceive back. 

In 2015, nan Life In Motion writer became nan first Black main dancer astatine nan ABT. Six years later, she launched nan Misty Copeland Foundation, providing opportunities for children “in under-resourced communities to prosecute their bodies, hearts, and minds successful learning done dance, particularly ballet,” nan charismatic tract explains.

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Copeland has embraced alteration passim her full career. However, 1 alteration that threw her for a loop was that of motherhood.

In February, she shared a candid Instagram post astir embracing nan changes that travel pinch gestation aft welcoming her boy Jackson pinch hubby Olu Evans, astir April 2022. "Throughout my ballet career, I've had accent fractures to my back, six accent fractures to my tibia, and galore ankle sprains," she began. "I've ever had respect for my body, what it's capable to do, and what I've been capable to push through..." 

She continued, "Pregnancy, birth, and clip itself person changed my assemblage successful ways I ne'er expected, but alternatively of chasing what was, I'm learning to clasp what is,” adding, "Remember: our bodies are perpetually adapting. They clasp each situation we've faced, each measurement we've taken, and still, they support showing up for us.”

Copeland besides spoke to PEOPLE successful January 2023 astir her acquisition pinch parenthood. While astatine an arena honoring co-founder of A&M Records, Jerry Moss, nan jock confessed she had a difficult clip leaving her babe boy for nan event. 

"It's been incredible. Today was really difficult, leaving him," she explained. "It's only been 9 months, but it's nan champion occupation I've ever had."

The ballerina said becoming a mom has taught her nan value of patience. "I deliberation I had patience, but moreover much so, conscionable to beryllium elastic and person patience," she admitted.

American Ballet Theatre’s website states that Fall Gala summons prices to spot Copeland's last capacity statesman astatine $5,000, pinch Fall Gala tables starting astatine $50,000.