Ballerina Misty Copeland gave her final performance at the American Ballet Theater’s Fall Gala celebrating its 85th anniversary season in NYC on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Misty, 43, became the first Black female principal dancer in the American Ballet Theater’s 75-year history.
She returned to the American Ballet Theater after taking 5 years off to raise her son, Jackson, with her husband Olu Evans.
Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King and Debbie Allen were among the stars who paid tribute to Misty.
In her speech, Oprah praised Misty for inspiring young people to pursue careers in the arts.
“Misty didn’t just perform ballet,” Oprah said, “she changed it. She redefined who belongs, who gets to be seen, and who gets to lead.”
“It’s been 25 years at ABT, and I think it’s time,” Misty told The Associated Press in an interview in June. “It’s time for me to move to the next stage.”
She added: “You know, I’ve become the person that I am today, and have all the opportunities I have today, because of ballet, (and) because of American Ballet Theatre. I feel like this is me saying ‘thank you’ to the company. So it’s a farewell. (But) it won’t be the end of me dancing. … Never say never.”
See more photos in the gallery below.
