Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey to Serve As Honorary Grand Chairs

Performance to Feature World Premiere Pièce d’Occasion by Kyle Abraham

Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III. Photo: Ruth Hogben.

NEW YORK, NY – American Ballet Theatre will honor Principal Dancer Misty Copeland with a star-studded Fall Gala celebration on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 6:30 P.M. at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. This historic event will bring together leaders in the arts, fashion, philanthropy, and culture to mark Copeland’s farewell season with ABT.

Honorary Grand Chairs include Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey, with Valentino Carlotti, Susan Fales-Hill, Arielle Patrick, and Darren Walker serving as Grand Chairs. The evening is generously supported by the Lead Underwriter Ford Foundation and Sponsors Brown Brothers Harriman and Dior.

Program Highlights: An Evening of Legacy

ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe and Copeland have collaborated on a special program that honors Copeland’s artistry and enduring influence. The evening will be highlighted by a World Premiere pièce d’occasion, choreographed by Kyle Abraham and led by Copeland and Calvin Royal III. Copeland will also perform with Royal in the balcony pas de deux from Kenneth Macmillan’s Romeo and Juliet and with Herman Cornejo in an excerpt from Twyla Tharp’s Sinatra Suite. Additional repertory will include the Act II pas de deux from Kevin McKenzie’s Swan Lake, danced by Hee Seo and Cory Stearns, the finale from George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, led by Devon Teuscher and Aran Bell, and a performance by ABT Studio Company. The event will also include video chronicling Copeland’s career and influences, as well as tributes from Debbie Allen and Oprah Winfrey.

Beyond the Stage

Beyond her ABT career, Copeland is a New York Times best-selling author, film producer, and founder of the Misty Copeland Foundation, which advances diversity and access in dance education through its BE BOLD program. Her impact continues to shape the future of the arts through her advocacy for representation, community, and opportunity.

For more information about the Fall Gala, please visit abt.org/Fall-Gala.

With gratitude, American Ballet Theatre thanks the following people for making this evening possible.

Honorary Grand Chairs

• Caroline Kennedy
• Oprah Winfrey

Grand Chairs

• Valentino Carlotti
• Susan Fales-Hill
• Arielle Patrick
• Darren Walker

Chairs

• Alexandra Airth
• Sarah Arison
• Paul Arnhold and Wes Gordon
• Avery and Andrew Barth
• Emily Blavatnik
• Ricki Gail Conway
• Amy Griffin
• Lillian E. Kraemer
• Jacqueline Badger Mars
• Brooks Nader
• Robin Chemers Neustein
• Jenna and Paul Segal
• Elizabeth Segerstrom
• Stewart R. Smith and Robin A. Ferracone

Co-Chairs

• Ambassador Nicole Avant
• Kathryn and Kenneth Chenault
• Sofia and Paxti Elizalde
• Susan and Leonard Feinstein
• Angela and James Ho
• Nyssa and Chris Lee
• Julia Loomis Lockwood
• Alissa Hsu Lynch
• Ashley McDermott
• Crystal McCrary McGuire and Raymond J. McGuire
• Racquel Oden, HSBC
• Yana Peel
• Richard and Elizabeth Pepperman
• Tina Raja
• Marva Smalls, Paramount
• Melissa A. Smith
• Leah Solivan
• Kathryn and Bill Tyree
• Chai Vasarhelyi
• Carla and Roland Villacorta
• Nicole Washington
• Douglas C. Wurth and Isiah Magsino

Lead Underwriter

• Ford Foundation

Sponsors

• Brown Brothers Harriman
• Dior

Honorary Committee

• Kyle Abraham
• Debbie Allen
• Lauren Anderson
• Hannah Bronfman
• Ayesha and Stephen Curry
• Lee Daniels
• Renée Fleming
• Robert Garland
• Thelma Golden
• Derek Jeter
• Virginia Johnson
• Gayle King
• Alicia Graff Mack
• Audra McDonald
• Kevin McKenzie
• Zac Posen and Harrison Ball
• Desmond Richardson
• Martin Scorsese
• Twyla Tharp
• Charlize Theron
• Lindsey Vonn
• Lena Waithe
• Alfre Woodard
• Catherine Zeta-Jones

ABOUT AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE

American Ballet Theatre is one of the greatest dance companies in the world. Revered as a national treasure since its founding season in 1940, its mission is to create, present, preserve, and extend the great repertoire of classical dancing for the widest possible audience. Headquartered in New York City, ABT is the only cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 U.S. states, 45 countries, and over 480 cities worldwide. ABT’s repertoire includes full-length classics from the nineteenth century, the finest works from the early twentieth century, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces. In 2006, by an act of Congress, ABT was designated America’s National Ballet Company®.

For more information, please visit www.abt.org.

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