Who Is Misty Copeland?

A young girl who performed on her middle school drill team
An award-winning author of books for kids and adults
The first Black woman to become principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre and one of the most famous ballerinas of all time

How did a young dancer from California become one of the most famous ballerinas in history? Learn all about Misty Copeland’s remarkable journey from choreographing dance routines for her favorite pop songs to dancing as the Firebird.

When Misty Copeland began dancing ballet at the age of thirteen, she was told that she was too old. Most kids who wanted to be serious ballerinas had begun at age four or five. She was also told she didn’t have the right body for the sport: She was too athletic, not long and lean enough. And, as a biracial child, she was often the only Black person in the studio. Luckily for the world of ballet, Misty wasn’t easy to discourage.

Soon, she landed the part of Clara in a production of one of the most famous ballets in the world, The Nutcracker. Within a few years, she was being invited to summer programs with the most elite ballet institutions in the country. She had her sights set on her dream: the American Ballet Theatre.

Since her first performance, Misty Copeland has portrayed some of the best-known characters in ballet, from Juliet in Romeo and Juliet to Odette in Swan Lake. She has danced iconic performances that brought new fans to her art, like she did as the Firebird. She has trailblazed, becoming the first Black woman to be a principal dancer at ABT. She’s even done things no one expected, like appearing in Prince’s music videos! By the time she retired from performing in 2025, Misty had become a mother, an advocate for dancers of all body types, and a ballerina like no other.