Misty Copeland
She shattered a 75-year color barrier at American Ballet Theatre, using her powerful artistry to redefine who gets to be a classical ballerina.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American ballet dancer and author·Birthday: September 10·Millennials
Biography
Misty Copeland's rise in the rarefied world of ballet is nothing short of a cultural revolution. She began dancing at 13, an age considered impossibly late for a professional career, yet her prodigious talent and athletic, muscular physique quickly silenced doubters. Joining American Ballet Theatre's corps de ballet in 2001, she advanced through the ranks while becoming a potent symbol of change in an art form steeped in tradition. Her breakthrough was both artistic and historic: in 2015, she was promoted to principal dancer, the first African American woman to hold that title in ABT's history. Copeland's stage presence is magnetic, combining technical precision with raw emotional power in roles like the Firebird and Odette/Odile. Offstage, she became a bestselling author and a vocal advocate for diversity, inspiring a new, broader audience to see themselves in the ballet world. Her story transcends dance, marking a pivotal moment of inclusion and expanded possibility.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Misty was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Misty Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Misty's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre in 2015.
- Authored the bestselling memoir 'Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina' and a children's book, 'Bunheads'.
- Was named one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2015.
- Performed the lead role of Clara in ABT's production of 'The Nutcracker', broadcast nationally on television.
Did You Know?
She was a member of the Prince tribute tour 'Welcome 2 America' and performed in his video for 'Crimson and Clover'.
She served as a member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition under Barack Obama.
She has a signature line of dancewear and fitness clothing with the brand Fabletics.
She made her Broadway debut in the musical 'On the Town' in 2015.
“I want to be seen as a ballerina who happens to be black, as opposed to a black ballerina.”
