First Black Female Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre
Misty Copeland: Biography at a Glance
- Misty Copeland is the first Black woman to be promoted to Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre in its history.
- She has performed alongside artists like Prince, Taylor Swift, Camilla Cabello, Common, Ben Platt, and H.E.R. and has had major classical ballet roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, and Giselle.
- She founded The Misty Copeland Foundation to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in ballet and she is also an ambassador for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and MindLeaps.
- Misty established Life In Motion Productions to tell representative stories of artists and produced the silent arts activism film Flower.
- She is the author of several New York Times bestselling books, including Life In Motion, Ballerina Body, and Black Ballerinas.
- Her journey and success story inspire many, particularly in breaking racial barriers in the ballet world and promoting inclusivity in the arts.
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Biography
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in San Pedro, California, Misty Copeland began her ballet studies at the late age of thirteen. At fifteen, she won first place in the Music Center Spotlight Awards. She studied at the San Francisco Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive on full scholarship and was declared ABT’s National Coca-Cola Scholar in 2000. Misty joined ABT’s Studio Company in September 2000, joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2001, and in August 2007 became the company’s second African American female Soloist and the first in two decades. In June 2015, Misty was promoted to principal dancer, making her the first African American woman to ever be promoted to the position in the company’s 75-year history.
In 2008, Misty was honored with the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts, a two-year fellowship awarded to young artists who exhibit extraordinary talent, providing them additional resources in order to attain their full potential. Performing a variety of classical and contemporary roles, one of Misty’s most important roles was performing the title role in Firebird, created in 2012 with new choreography by much-sought-after choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. In December 2014, Misty performed the lead role of “Clara” in American Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker, also choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky. In the fall of 2014, she made history as the first black woman to perform the lead role of “Odette/Odile” in American Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake during the company’s inaugural tour to Australia. Misty reprised the role during ABT’s Metropolitan Opera House spring season in June 2015, as well as debuted as “Juliet” in Romeo & Juliet.
Misty has been featured in numerous publications and television programs, including CBS Sunday Morning, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, MSNBC’s Melissa Harris Perry, Vogue, Essence, Ebony, and People Magazine. She was honored with an induction into the Boys & Girls Club National Hall of Fame in May 2012 and received the “Breakthrough Award” from the Council of Urban Professionals in April 2012. She was named National Youth of the Year Ambassador for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in June 2013. She received the Young, Gifted & Black honor at the 2013 Black Girls Rock! Awards.
Her endorsements, past and present, include American Express, Estee Lauder Modern Muse, Giorgio Armani Crossroads, Theory, Jeep, Stuart Weitzman, Breitling, Signature watch by Seiko, Nissan, IHG, Mattel Signature Collection Barbie Doll, Masterclass, LG Electronics, COACH, and Diet Dr. Pepper. In 2014, Under Armour launched Misty as one of the faces of their “I Will What I Want” campaign with a commercial that went viral, gaining over 9,000,000 views to date.
Misty’s passion is giving back. She has worked with many charitable organizations and is dedicated to giving of her time to work with and mentor young girls and boys. In 2014, President Obama appointed Misty to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.
Misty is the author of the New York Times Bestselling memoir, Life in Motion, co-written with award-winning journalist and author Charisse Jones, published in 2014. She has a picture book titled Firebird in collaboration with award-winning illustrator and author Christopher Myers, published in 2014. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hartford in November 2014 for her contributions to classical ballet and for helping to diversify the art form.
She made her first awards season guest performances in 2019 with Taylor Swift at the American MusicAwards and at the 2020 Grammy Awards alongside Camilla Cabella, Common, Ben Platt, and dancers from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, as well as the televisedPrince Grammy Tribute performing with award-winning recording artist H.E.R. Misty made her Broadway debut in The Townin 2015 and her major motion picture debut in Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms in 2018. She is also featured in an episode of MasterClass, the online series.
Misty started her production company, Life InMotion Productions, focused on bringing representative stories of artists past, present, and future, and normalizing the arts experience. Her first independently produced project, Flower, premiered at the Tribeca Festival in 2023 and is a silent arts activism film using dance to help raise awareness about intergenerational equity. Misty is an avid philanthropist and is an ambassador of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, of which she is also an alum. In 2022, Misty launched The Misty Copeland Foundation, with its first signature program BEBOLD, which aims to bring greater diversity, equity and inclusion to dance, especially ballet. In 2023, she launched the women’s line of Greatness Wins, an athletic wear business she co-founded with Derek Jeter and Chris Riccobono. Misty is the New York Times best-selling author of Life In Motion, Ballerina Body, Black Ballerinas, and a picture book titled Bunheads. She is also the author of the award-winning children’s picture book, Firebird. Misty’s book, The Wind at My Back, in tribute to her late mentor and friend, pioneering ballerina Raven Wilkinson, was published in 2022. In 2021, Misty was the recipient of the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP’s highest honor, and in 2023, she received the Trailblazer Icon Award at The Grio Awards, was named to The Root 100 list, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from New York University. Prior honors include Glamour’s Women of the Year, Black Girls Rock! Awards, and Time 100 Most Influential People.
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FAQs
How do I book Misty Copeland for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Misty Copeland to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
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Who is Misty Copeland's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Misty Copeland’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Misty Copeland in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Misty Copeland's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
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CAA Speakers can check Misty Copeland's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Misty Copeland, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Misty Copeland's speaking fee?
Misty Copeland's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Misty Copeland's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
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Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Misty Copeland's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Misty Copeland as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Misty Copeland as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Misty Copeland's keynote speaking fee
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How to contact Misty Copeland for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Misty Copeland speaking engagements.
Official contact for Misty Copeland bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/misty-copeland
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Misty Copeland.
Is Misty Copeland available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Misty Copeland speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Misty Copeland's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
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What events can I book Misty Copeland for?
Book Misty Copeland for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Misty Copeland customizes content for any audience size or event type.
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Misty Copeland engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
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Misty Copeland booking information and availability
Check Misty Copeland's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Misty Copeland for your preferred event date.
Book Misty Copeland keynote speaker through CAA
Book Misty Copeland through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Misty Copeland, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
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Will Misty Copeland speak at private events?
Yes, Misty Copeland speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
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How quickly will I get a response about booking Misty Copeland?
CAA Speakers responds to Misty Copeland booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Misty Copeland?
Book Misty Copeland 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Misty Copeland pricing information?
Get Misty Copeland pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
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- Event format and duration
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CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.
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