Misty Copeland's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Misty Copeland.

Misty Copeland is a celebrated American ballet dancer, prominent with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Most notably, on June 30, 2015, she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT's 75-year existence. Her journey and success have made her a significant figure in the world of ballet and a source of inspiration.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1994: First dancer on the cover of Time Magazine since Bill T. Jones in 1994

In 2015, as a result of being named one of the Time 100, Misty Copeland appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, making her the first dancer on the cover since Bill T. Jones in 1994.

1997: Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Award

In 1997, Misty Copeland won the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Award as the best dancer in Southern California.

March 1998: First Place at Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards

In March 1998, at fifteen years old, Misty Copeland won first place in the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards at the Chandler Pavilion. This victory secured her recognition as the best young dancer in the Greater Los Angeles Area by the Los Angeles Times.

2003: Dance Magazine's '25 to Watch' and Early Career Reviews

In 2003, Misty Copeland was named to Dance Magazine's '25 to Watch' and received favorable reviews for her roles in La Bayadère and William Forsythe's workwithinwork.

August 2007: Appointment as Soloist at ABT

In August 2007, Misty Copeland was appointed as a soloist at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), marking her as one of the youngest dancers promoted to soloist in ABT history.

2007: Soloist Performances and Creation of Leading Role

In 2007, during her first season as a soloist at New York City Center, Misty Copeland received positive reviews in The New York Times for her Balanchine Ballo della Regina role. Also in 2007, she created a leading role in C. to C. (Close to Chuck), choreographed by Jorma Elo to A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close, Études 2, 9 & 10, by Philip Glass.

2008: Performances in Twyla Tharp and Paul Taylor's Works

During the 2008-09 season, Misty Copeland was praised for her performances in Twyla Tharp's Baker's Dozen and Paul Taylor's Company B.

2008: Won the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts

In 2008, Misty Copeland won the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts, which funds study with master teachers and trainers outside of ABT.

2008: Performances at the Metropolitan Opera House

In the summer of 2008, Misty Copeland's performances in Don Quixote and Sleeping Beauty at the Metropolitan Opera House were well received.

2009: Spring ABT Season and Role Creation

During the 2009 Spring ABT season at the Met, Misty Copeland performed Gulnare in Le Corsaire and leading roles in Taylor's Airs and Balanchine's Pas de Deux from Swan Lake. In 2009, she also created a role in Aszure Barton's One of Three.

2010: Performances After Recovery from Stress Fracture

In 2010, after recovering from a stress fracture, Misty Copeland performed in Birthday Offering at the Met and at the Guggenheim Museum, dancing to David Lang's music. She also created the Spanish Dance in ABT artist-in-residence Alexei Ratmansky's new version of The Nutcracker, premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

2011: Recognition and Performances

In early 2011, Misty Copeland was well received at the Kennedy Center as the Milkmaid in Ratmansky's The Bright Stream. In Black History Month in 2011, Copeland was selected by Essence as one of its 37 Boundary-breaking black women in entertainment. In May 2011, she created a role in Ratmansky's Dumbarton.

March 29, 2012: Starring in The Firebird Premiere

On March 29, 2012, Misty Copeland starred in The Firebird, with choreography by Ratmansky, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. The Los Angeles Times hailed the performance as one of the year's best dance performances.

May 2013: Return to the Stage

In May 2013, Misty Copeland returned to the stage as the Queen of the Dryads in Don Quixote. Nelson George began filming a documentary to capture her comeback.

June 2013: Reprising Role in Le Corsaire

In June 2013, Misty Copeland reprised her role as Gulnare in the pirate-themed Le Corsaire. She also played an Odalisque in the same ballet.

2013: Named National Youth of the Year Ambassador

In 2013, Misty Copeland was named National Youth of the Year Ambassador by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

May 2014: Lead Role in Coppélia and Performances at the Met

In May 2014, Misty Copeland performed the lead role of Swanilda in Coppélia at the Met. Also in May 2014, the Met staged a program of one-act ballets featuring Copeland in Theme and Variations, Duo Concertant and Gaîté Parisienne.

June 2014: Performances in Cinderella, Manon, and La Bayadère

In June 2014, Misty Copeland danced the Fairy Autumn in Frederick Ashton's Cinderella at the Met. Also in June, she played Lescaut's Mistress in Manon and performed the role of Gamzatti in La Bayadère.

2014: Named to the President's Council and received honorary doctorate

In 2014, Misty Copeland was named to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hartford.

March 2015: Role in The Sleeping Beauty

In March 2015, Misty Copeland danced the role of Princess Florine in The Sleeping Beauty at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California.

May 2015: Roles in Rodeo, Othello, and Giselle

In May 2015, Misty Copeland played Cowgirl in Rodeo, Bianca in Othello, and Zulma in Giselle.

June 2015: Debut in Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake

In June 2015, Misty Copeland created the small role of the Fairy Fleur de farine (Wheat flower) in Ratmansky's The Sleeping Beauty. She also made her debut in Romeo and Juliet and her New York debut in the Odette/Odile double role from Swan Lake.

June 30, 2015: Promotion to Principal Dancer

On June 30, 2015, Misty Copeland made history by becoming the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre's 75-year history.

December 2015: Role of Clara in The Nutcracker

In December 2015, Misty Copeland reprised the role of Clara in Ratmansky's Nutcracker at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

2015: Named one of Glamour's Women of the Year, ESPN's Impact 25, and one of Time 100

In 2015, Misty Copeland was named one of Glamour's Women of the Year, one of ESPN's 2015 Impact 25 athletes, and one of the Time 100.

2015: Recognition as Influential Person and Endorsements

In 2015, Misty Copeland was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people, appearing on its cover. She also endorsed products from T-Mobile, Coach, Inc., Dr Pepper, Seiko, The Dannon Company, and Under Armour.

January 2016: Reprising Role in The Sleeping Beauty

In January 2016, Misty Copeland reprised the role of Princess Florine in The Sleeping Beauty at the Kennedy Center, choreographed by Ratmansky.

2016: Won a Shorty Award for Best in Dance in Social Media

In 2016, Misty Copeland won a Shorty Award for Best in Dance in Social Media.

2019: Dancing Harlequinade with Calvin Royal III

In 2019, Misty Copeland danced Harlequinade opposite Calvin Royal III in the roles of Pirrette and Pierrot, marking a rare instance of a black couple dancing together in ballet.