Misty Copeland is a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, the first Black woman to be promoted to the position in the company’s 75-year history in 2015.  She has performed some of the most iconic classical ballet roles, including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake; Juliet in Romeo & Juliet; Giselle; Manon; Coppelia; Kitri in Don Quixote; and Firebird, to name a few.  Misty has been featured in several publications, including the cover of Time Magazine for the Time 100, as well as the covers of ESSENCE, Self, ELLE South Africa, Oxygen and Women’s Health. She has also appeared on CBS’ 60 Minutes, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s The Today Show and Little Big Shots, celebrating extraordinary young people.  In 2022, Misty launched,  The Misty Copeland Foundation, a Harlem based organization, with its first signature program BE BOLD, that aims to bring greater diversity, equity and inclusion to dance, especially ballet.

Misty’s achievements in ballet as well as her dedication to empowering others, especially young people and aspiring artists, aligns with what we at the BID value; the unique history, culture, and spirit of Harlem.