Last night, American Ballet Theatre’s 2025 Fall Gala filled Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater with elegance, emotion, and reverence—a luminous tribute to Misty Copeland as she gave her final performance with the company. The evening felt both monumental and deeply personal, marking the close of a storied chapter while celebrating a legacy that has reshaped to whom ballet belongs.
The night began with a pre-performance toast in Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, where supporters, artists, and longtime friends gathered beneath the sparkling chandeliers. Champagne flutes clinked as anticipation rippled through the room, the atmosphere warm and celebratory—more like a family reunion than a formal gala. There was a shared understanding that this was a once-in-a-generation moment: the final bow of an artist who had transcended ballet to become a cultural icon.
(Left to right, top to bottom) Nicole Ari Parker, Isabella Boylston, Herman Cornejo, Calvin Royal III, Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashād, Iman, Taye Diggs, Danielle Brooks, Gayle King, Marisa Tomei, Alfre Woodard, Jordan Roth, Char Defrancesco and Marc Jacobs. Photos courtesy of Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre, by Dimitrios Kambouris
When the curtain rose on the evening’s performance, the house fell silent as the opening tributes began. Caroline Kennedy—author, former United States Ambassador to Australia, and one of the Honorary Grand Chairs of the 2025 ABT Fall Gala—opened the evening with a speech that radiated elegance and thoughtful reflection. She was followed by actress, dancer, and Honorary Committee member Debbie Allen, whose remarks brought warmth, energy, and joy to the stage. The spotlight then turned to Oprah Winfrey, also serving as Honorary Grand Chair, whose commanding presence filled the theater. Her words were both deeply personal and inspiring, capturing the arc of Copeland’s career, her cultural impact, and the significance of the evening. Several other speakers followed, sharing heartfelt tributes that underscored the gala as both a celebration of Copeland’s artistry and a testament to her transformative influence on ballet and the broader arts.
The performance itself was framed by video interludes projected on a screen that dropped between each dance. These clips offered intimate glimpses into Copeland’s journey—from her first dance teacher’s recollections to archival footage of key moments, including the first time she was cast in Swan Lake. Each video set the stage emotionally, allowing the audience to see both the history and the context before the dances were performed.
The evening opened with Copeland in the Act I balcony pas de deux from Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, performing with Calvin Royal III. The piece carried both passion and poignancy, embodying a lifetime of artistry distilled into a single unforgettable performance. The audience responded with immediate, unrestrained applause, the air vibrating with collective awe.
Between the bookend pieces, Copeland and fellow ABT principal dancers performed excerpts from other celebrated works, including the Act II pas de deux from Swan Lake. Here, Hee Seo and Cory Stearns appeared after a video highlighting Copeland’s early experience in the role. Other dances that followed showcased her versatility and range, moving seamlessly from classical form to contemporary innovation.
The evening concluded with a joyful flourish in Twyla Tharp’s Sinatra Suite, danced by Copeland and Herman Cornejo. The performance radiated energy and personality, a lighthearted contrast to the emotional gravity of Romeo and Juliet that opened the program. Copeland’s musicality, charisma, and sheer joy filled the stage, leaving the audience in rapture as the final notes faded.
As the curtain fell, the moment of Copeland’s final bow became a deeply personal scene. One by one, her fellow dancers tossed flowers at her feet while mentors, friends, and colleagues brought unending bouquets, followed by her young son, who ran across the stage into his mother’s open arms. Soon the stage was covered in a mountain of roses and lilies, a tangible symbol of the admiration and love she has inspired throughout her career. She stood surrounded by colleagues, family, and the bounty of flowers—a scene both tender and triumphant.
(Top to bottom, left to right) Oprah Winfrey, Darren Walker, Richie Jackson, Gayle King and Jordan Roth, Misty Copeland, Calvin Royal III and Herman Cornejo, Calvin Royal III, João Menegussi, Connor Holloway and Michael de la Nuez, Misty Copeland, Debbie Allen and Oprah Winfrey. Photos courtesy of Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre, by Dimitrios Kambouris and Eugene Gologursky
The celebration continued at the gala dinner, where guests dined beneath soft golden lighting among cascading floral arrangements, reflecting the bouquets still vivid in memory. Conversation flowed from reflections on Copeland’s early years to excitement for what comes next, the mood celebratory yet tinged with the bittersweet recognition that an era had ended.
Stepping out into the crisp October night, the echo of applause and the warmth of the evening lingered. The 2025 ABT Fall Gala was more than a farewell; it was a coronation. Misty Copeland’s final bow was not a goodbye but a testament to everything she has made possible—for ballet, for art, and for all who will step onto that stage after her.
