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Misty Copeland's Best Ballet Performances

These 10 Misty Copeland Ballet Performances Are on Pointe

May 24 2020

Misty Copeland isn't just a fabulous ballerina (and an insanely strong athlete), she's also the first Black woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre's 80-plus-year history. The Under-Armour-sponsored dance prodigy is an inspiration both on and off the stage, which is why her fans include everyone from the late pop legend Prince to Chrissy Teigen's daughter Luna. Anyone who has watched Copeland dance would have a pretty hard time believing that she didn't start taking ballet lessons until the age of 13, and if you haven't seen her dance for yourself, you need to check out these awe-inducing performances.

Image Source: Getty / Hiroyuki Ito

1. Misty Copeland Dancing the Kitri Variation From Don Quixote

Misty performed this variation from Don Quixote back in 1997 when she was only 15 years old (and had only two years of dance training under her belt).

2. Misty Copeland Dancing the Queen of the Dryads Variation From Don Quixote

Misty performed another variation from Don Quixote during the ABT NYC Summer Intensive back in 2000.

3. Misty Copeland Dancing Marcelo Gomes's Paganini

Misty performed Marcelo Gomes's Paganini solo in 2012's Gala de Ballet Despertares in Mexico City.

4. Misty Copeland Dancing Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux

Misty performed this solo from Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux at the 37th Annual Kennedy Centre Honours in 2014.

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5. Misty Copeland Dancing to Flower Duet From Lakmé

Misty performed a solo to "Flower Duet" from the opera Lakmé during an appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show in 2014.

6. Misty Copeland Dancing the Sugar Plum Pas De Deux From The Nutcracker

Misty performed this pas de deux opposite fellow ABT dancer Sterling Baca at the New England Dance Ensemble's production of The Nutcracker in 2014.

7. Misty Copeland Dancing the Miss Turnstiles Ballet From On the Town

Misty played the role of Miss Turnstiles in the Broadway musical On the Town in 2015.

8. Misty Copeland Dancing Juliet's Variation From Romeo and Juliet

Misty performed this variation from Romeo and Juliet at La Scala Theatre in Milan in 2016.

9. Misty Copeland Dancing the Balcony Pas de Deux From Romeo and Juliet

Misty performed this pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet with fellow ABT dancer Roberto Bolle at La Scala Theatre in 2016.

10. Misty Copeland Dancing Selections From Swan Lake

Misty performed selections from Swan Lake while accompanied by the LA Philharmonic during the Dudamel and Stars of Ballet program at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017.

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