Misty Copeland named first black principal ballerina at American Ballet Theater

The American Ballet Theater named Misty Copeland, 32, principal ballerina on Tuesday, making her the first African-American woman to hold the position in the company's 75-year history. Stella Abrera was also promoted to principal.

Copeland has been with the American Ballet Theater for 14 years and spent eight of those years as a soloist. Last week, she performed as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake at the Met; she has also performed in Alexei Ratmansky's Firebird and debuted in Romeo and Juliet.

"When she's on, the audience is totally diverse," Artistic Director Emerita of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Judith Jamison told The Wall Street Journal. "This is what happens when you give people opportunity to do things they are capable of doing."

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