American Ballet Theatre’s Fall Gala Honors Misty Copeland: A Farewell, a Continuum

Under the soft gold light of Lincoln Center, the American Ballet Theatre’s 85th Anniversary Fall Gala became an evening of tribute and celebration of a trailblazing icon. It was Misty Copeland’s farewell performance with the company, a night that balanced the homage of an iconic performer with the collective talent of the ballet company. Caroline Kennedy opened with welcoming remarks that set a tone of quiet gratitude before the curtain rose. The audience blended art-world reverence with New York glamour. Iman, Ilana Glazer, and Oprah Winfrey were among those who gathered to honor Copeland. Jim Parsons, elegant in a velvet blazer, embodied the understated polish of the evening. As Oprah later said of Copeland, “She redefined who belongs, who gets to be seen, and who gets to lead.” The sentiment captured the essence of the night: a woman who had expanded ballet’s frame to make space for others.

An Evening in Six Movements

The evening’s program offered a sweeping view of ABT’s past and present, pairing classic repertoire with contemporary voice. The orchestra carried the room through the grandeur of Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and Balanchine’s Theme and Variations while the more modern or tribute performances were set to curated sound rather than score.

In Romeo and Juliet, Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III brought an innocent tenderness to the stage. Their performance captured the giddiness of young love, light, impulsive, and unguarded, reminding the audience that technique and emotion meet in a dancer’s expression of joy as well as tragedy.

Kyle Abraham’s Pièce d’Occasion followed with bold costuming and fearless energy. Its energetic choreography and color-rich and fluid aesthetic seemed to carry a nod to the LGBTQ community, a celebration of individuality and the inclusion modern dance provides.

The brief intermissions between works were marked by a short film tracing Copeland’s rise, from her discovery as a teenager in California to her defining performance as The Firebird, danced through a painful tibia fracture that nonetheless revealed her unmatched resolve and artistry. That performance became a turning point, leading to her historic promotion to principal dancer. The film also highlighted the creation of the Misty Copeland Foundation and her conviction that while talent may be universal, opportunity is not, affirming that her legacy will live as much through advocacy as through art.

Near the program’s close, Oprah Winfrey came to the stage, calmly joyful in her opportunity to speak to the impact Misty Copeland’s career has had in the world of ballet and beyond.. She spoke of Copeland’s many achievements and rise to national and global celebrity, noting how her foundation and public work have expanded the definition of belonging. “Her greatest performance might just be the one we don’t see from the seats, the work that she’s done beyond the stage,” Winfrey said, drawing applause that rippled through the house. The audience, still moved from the preceding film and performances, seemed to understand that this was more than a farewell. It was the acknowledgment of a life that had shifted the culture of this country as well as the world of classical ballet.. Debbie Allen followed with words that shimmered with admiration, reminding the crowd that Copeland’s discipline and empathy had changed not only what audiences see, but who sees themselves reflected onstage.

This suite showcased a marriage of ballet and ballroom dance, executed expertly by Misty Copeland and Herman Cornejo in a passionate and definitive expression. This final performance was a bridge between modern dance and classical ballet in every way, including costumes originally designed by Oscar de la Renta. One detail stood out, as a writer that loves a story and especially unique or outlying observations. As a standard of any category of dance, to ensure stability in movement, a measure to secure the ankle is necessary, usually an ankle strap or wrap. Misty Copeland danced this piece in pumps (as seen in images of the final bow) which would certainly have impacted a dancer’s freedom of movement in slides, jumps, and twirls. This in no way showed any impact on the beautiful execution of the Sinatra Suite, speaking to the masterful expertise of Misty Copeland, in taking a risk (even in this small detail) and delivering perfection.

Not a Close, but a Continuation

As the curtain fell, dozens of dancers and colleagues joined Copeland onstage, the choice few becoming an adoring crowd. The final congratulations came from her son and husband, and she knelt to embrace her son before taking her final bow to a standing ovation that lasted more than ten minutes. Applause filled the theatre as she stood among the company she helped elevate and all those who have supported her journey. She will remain with ABT as a member of its Board of Trustees, carrying her influence from the stage to the institution she helped shape. “You’ve given so much of yourself to this art form,” Oprah Winfrey said in closing, “and in doing so, you’ve given the world something greater, the courage to dream differently.” Misty Copeland’s farewell was not an ending. It was a continuum, a ballet still in motion.