Teenager Misty Copeland might have thought it was far-fetched that she could be one of the country’s top professional ballet dancers. After all, most who practice the art form start training at far younger ages than she did in her hometown of San Pedro, Calif. But when you’re this good, your starting point is almost irrelevant.

Copeland was recognized as a prodigy, winning local competitions and receiving professional offers within two years of her first lesson. Her supporters weren’t wrong. She would go on to become a soloist, an exclusive position at the renowned American Ballet Theatre. In 2015, at the age of 32, she was named ABT’s principal dancer, the first time a Black American woman would receive that designation in the company’s 75-year history.
This promotion followed a career defined by rapid technical progression and a significant presence in both the dance world and popular media.

Copeland began her ballet training at the age of 13, a starting point significantly later than the industry standard. During her early teens, Copeland’s personal life and training were the subject of a public legal dispute involving a custody battle and a filing for legal emancipation, both of which were eventually dropped as she returned to live with her family and continued her training under a new teacher.

In 2000, Copeland joined the ABT Studio Company, and by 2001, she became a member of the corps de ballet. Her early years at the company were marked by physical challenges, including a lumbar fracture that required medical intervention. The resulting changes to her physique during her recovery led to a period of struggle with body image and conventional ballet aesthetics. 

Throughout her tenure at ABT, Copeland performed a wide array of leading roles, including the title character in Firebird, Clara in The Nutcracker, and the double role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. Her 2015 performance in Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House made her the first African American to dance that role for the company at that venue.