After a storied, decades-long career, ballerina Misty Copeland — known just as much for her advocacy offstage as her accomplishments on — is retiring from the American Ballet Theatre.
Copeland, who last performed for the company five years ago, will be honored in a final star-studded Fall Gala on Wednesday, featuring tributes from Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen. In her final appearance, Copeland will perform excerpts from “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sinatra Suite,” as well as the world premiere of a pièce d’occasion choreographed by Kyle Abraham.
“Although I’ll be saying farewell to the stage, I’ll always be committed to opening doors, creating space, and making ballet a place where everyone belongs,” she wrote in a public Instagram post ahead of her performance.
For those unable to afford the $5,000 gala tickets, the ABT is offering hundreds of free tickets to a live simulcast at Alice Tully Hall, just a block away from the event.
Video Ad Feedback ‘One plié at a time’: Misty Copeland is expanding access to ballet 2:12 • Source: CNN ‘One plié at a time’: Misty Copeland is expanding access to ballet 2:12
It’s a fitting sendoff for a ballerina who brought renewed attention
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