Who Is Misty Copeland? 5 Things to Know About the Trailblazing Ballerina

Misty Copeland is returning to the stage to perform a dance to “I Lied to You” from Sinners at the 2026 Oscars.

Copeland is an iconic ballerina who became the first Black principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre in 2015. She started her dancing career at 13 and went on to nab leading roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Romeo & Juliet and more.

In October 2025, she retired from ABT after a 25-year-long career, but shared that it didn’t mean “the end” of fans seeing her dance.

Keep scrolling to learn more about Copeland:

Why Is Misty Copeland Famous?

Misty Copeland is famous for becoming the first Black female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She became a professional dancer in 2000 when she joined at age 18, and then became the company’s first Black female principal dancer in 2015.

Copeland broke racial barriers in ballet and became known as a cultural icon. Throughout her career, she won multiple awards, including the Glamour Award for The Showstopper in 2015 and the Shorty Award for Best in Dance the following year.

Where Is Misty Copeland From?

Misty Copeland was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Los Angeles. She started ballet at age 13 at a local Boys & Girls Club before moving on to the San Pedro Ballet School. Copeland also studied at the San Pedro High School and later joined ABT’s Studio company in 2000.

What Performances Was Misty Copeland Cast in?

Misty Copeland has performed lead roles in Swan Lake as Odette/Odile, Romeo & Juliet as Juliet, The Firebird, Giselle and The Nutcracker.

Her most well-known role was as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, which she was cast for in 2015. She was the first Black woman to perform the role.

When Did Misty Copeland Retire?

After 25 years of dancing with the ABT, Misty Copeland retired as a professional dancer in October 2025. At the time, she took to Instagram to reflect on her last performance.

“Last night was a moment I’ll carry with me forever. After 25 years with American Ballet Theatre, I took my final bow surrounded by the company and community that have shaped my life and career,” she wrote. “I’m deeply honored to continue my connection to ABT as a member of the Board of Trustees — supporting the next generation of dancers and storytellers who will lead this art form forward.”

In June 2025, she told The Associated Press that her retirement didn’t mean the “end of [her] dancing.” Copeland will return to the stage at the 2026 Oscars when she will perform a dance to “I Lied to You” from Sinners.

Does Misty Copeland Have Kids?

Misty Copeland has one child, a son, Jackson, whom she welcomed in April 2022 with her husband, Olu Evans.

In November 2025, she gushed about her little one, whom she has kept out of the spotlight, watching her dance for the first time.

“I mean, I feel like he was a different boy the next day, having seen me dance for the first time and being on the stage,” she told People. “Literally, my husband and I were like, ‘Who is this transformed?’”

She added, “It was really fascinating to see the shift in him, but it was amazing. It was overwhelming, and I think that it takes me time to process things, and so I think this is something that I’ll be processing for a while.”