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Misty Copeland is taking her final bow and doing it with the same grace, power, and poise that’s defined her entire career. The trailblazing ballerina will give her farewell performance on Oct. 22 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater. The milestone marks the end of an era, but as Copeland reminded audiences, it’s far from the end of her story. Check out a gallery of Misty Copeland’s top looks to celebrate this milestone moment.
Copeland made history as the first Black female Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in 2015, and now, she’s set to give her final farewell performance. As reported by Bachtrack, Copeland reflected on the moment as both a celebration and a continuation.
“My time with ABT has shaped me not just as a dancer, but as a person,” Copeland shared. “This isn’t a farewell, it’s a celebration of everything we’ve built together, and a step toward all the work that’s still ahead.”
That “work” includes her ongoing advocacy for diversity and accessibility in the arts through the Misty Copeland Foundation, which provides dance education to youth in under-resourced communities.
After five years away from the stage, Copeland’s return for one final performance was as poetic as it was powerful. According to The New Yorker, her farewell will feature iconic selections from Romeo and Juliet and Sinatra Suite, plus a new piece choreographed by Kyle Abraham. This is a nod to the next generation of Black brilliance in ballet. The night will carry deep emotional weight, as Copeland remains the only Black woman to ever hold a principal title in ABT’s 85-year history.
Per Playbill, her farewell gala will simulcast live at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, where students from her foundation’s BE BOLD and BE BOLDER programs can watch in admiration. Tributes from Debbie Allen and Oprah Winfrey honor her artistry and impact. Copeland transformed the image of what a ballerina can look like and who ballet can be for.
Now, as Misty Copeland glides into her next chapter, her influence continues to ripple far beyond the stage through her books, her foundation, and her style. In honor of her final bow, we’re revisiting some of her most stunning looks that defined her journey as a modern icon of ballet.
Check out a gallery of Misty Copeland’s top looks below:
1. Love Her Style
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 25: Misty Copeland speaks onstage during the Clinton Global Initiative 2025 Annual Meeting at New York Hilton Midtown on September 25, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for New York Hilton Midtown)
2. Poised
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Misty Copeland arrives to ‘DS2 REMIXED: THE BALLET,’ presented by Grand Marnier® at Brooklyn Academy of Music on September 19, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Grand Marnier®)
3. Classic & Chic
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 15: Misty Copeland attends Harper’s Bazaar Icons Dinner during NYFW on September 15, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Aeon/GC Images)
4. A Doll Really
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Misty Copeland at the Simkhai SS26 Post-Show Dinner during New York Fashion Week held at The Leopard Room at Chez Margaux on September 11, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images)
5. Casual & Cute
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 3: Misty Copeland is seen on Day 11 of the 2025 US Open Tennis Championships at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 3, 2025 in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City. (Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images)
6. The Moment
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 29: Misty Copeland attends the BAAND Together Dance Festival made possible by CHANEL at Lincoln Center on July 29, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/WireImage)
7. A Ballerina
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1 November 2018…The Nutcracker And The Four Realms – European Film Premiere held at Vue Westfield, Westfield Shopping Centre, London…Here: Misty Copeland. (Photo by Justin Goff Photos/Getty Images)
8. And Just Like That…
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Misty Copeland at the Chanel and Tribeca luncheon to celebrate Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program held at The Greenwich Hotel Courtyard on June 06, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
9. Beautiful
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 28: Misty Copeland attends the 2025 American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala at Cipriani South Street on May 28, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/WireImage)
10. With Grace
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: Misty Copeland attends the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Hot Pink Party 2025 at The Glasshouse on May 13, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Breast Cancer Research Foundation)
11. A Gem
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 07: Misty Copeland attends the 2025 YoungArts New York Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on April 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images)
12. Very Hot
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BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 02: Misty Copeland attends the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 02, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
13. Opening Night Looks
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Misty Copeland attends the 2024 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s opening night gala at New York City Center on December 04, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)
14. NYC Chic
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 17: Misty Copeland is seen on September 17, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by PTR/Star Max/GC Images)
15. A Vision of Beauty & Grace
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: Misty Copeland attends the Dance Theater of Harlem’s Annual Vision Gala honoring Misty Copeland at New York City Center on April 12, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Dance Theater of Harlem)
16. Come On Collar
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 16: Misty Copeland attends the 55th NAACP Image Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on March 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
17. Monochromatic Moments
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 12: Misty Copeland is seen arriving to the Carolina Herrera show on February 12, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
18. Front Row At The Show
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Misty Copeland at LaQuan Smith RTW Fall 2024 as part of New York Ready to Wear Fashion Week held at Cipriani 25 Broadway on February 12, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images)
19. NYFW
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 11: Misty Copeland attends the Jason Wu fashion show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows on February 11, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)
20. Poised In Satin
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Misty Copeland (Photo by Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images)
21. And Misty Means Business
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 01: Misty Copeland arrives at Special Screening of “Flower” as part of the San Francisco Dance Film Festival at Brava Theater on October 01, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images)
22. Runway Ready
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Misty Copeland at the Bach Mai Spring 2024 Ready To Wear Runway Show at the DiMenna Center on September 12, 2023 in New York, New York (Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)
23. The Doll
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 11: Ballerina Misty Copeland walks the runway at The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2016 Presented By Macy’s at The Arc, Skylight at Moynihan Station on February 11, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AHA)
24. Final Farewell, Misty!
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Celebrity Misty Copeland
25. Misty Copeland
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Celebrity Misty Copeland
26. The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2016 Presented By Macy’s – Backstage
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 11: Ballerina Misty Copeland poses backstage at The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2016 Presented By Macy’s at The Arc, Skylight at Moynihan Station on February 11, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for AHA)
