In 75 years in existence, the American Ballet Theatre never had a black principal dancer.
This week, that changed.
Misty Copeland, who joined the company in 2001, was promoted to the highest rank within the ABT on Tuesday.
Copeland "completely inhabited" the ballet's demanding, complex lead role of Odette/Odile in "Swan Lake" this week, according to Dance Magazine's Editor Wendy Perron. The African American ballerina received thunderous applause as she took the stage for her bows after the performance. Copeland has performed the role before, but Monday night's performance, which was sold out and well-attended by dance critics, dancers and her many fans, is what many are already identifying as a historic moment.
32-year-old Copeland remarked on her historic role at ABT, even before this promotion, in her memoir, "Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina," published last year.
"My fears are that it could be another two decades before another black woman is in the position that I hold with an elite ballet company," she wrote.
