An Historic Honor for a Cultural Icon

Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, presented the Luminary Award to Copeland with a stirring tribute that truly underscored her importance as someone who is not only a master of her art form, but a cultural ambassador for it as well.

"When she became the first Black woman promoted to Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre in 2015, she achieved what many thought was impossible. The significance of that moment reached far beyond the stage... It reverberated through classrooms, living rooms, dance studios, and communities across the country and the world. Countless young people saw themselves reflected in a tradition that had too often suggested that they perhaps were not welcome. She not only broke barriers, she transformed expectations."

I got the chance to speak with Copeland earlier in the red carpet portion of the evening and she had this to say:

"It's extremely meaningful to be honored by Lincoln Center, which has been a home for me for the last 25-plus years," Copeland said. "To see the evolution of what Lincoln Center has become, especially in recent times, I feel so proud to be a Black woman serving on the board of directors, and seeing how much Lincoln Center has embraced so many communities."

When she finally stepped on the stage there was a hush in the air as the audience reaction was akin to a coronation of a queen and Copeland graciously accepted the Luminary honor and gave respect right back to the Lincoln Center thanking everyone in attendance for their support and donations that will impact future generations and reminding them what it’s about.

“What has been most meaningful to me about being a part of this institution is its belief that, at the end of the day, the arts are really about people, about connection, about creating spaces where people can come together, to feel curiosity, emotion, reflection, and discomfort, joy”

Learning to dance gave her purpose and most importantly she said “a way to understand myself.”

John Legend Takes the Stage

Thanking his friend Misty Copeland several times, the entire room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop as his soulful voice and tender piano playing felt like a medicine we all needed. Among his formidable musical talents we were presented with complete reworkings of Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark and Bob Marley’s Redemption Song that infused them with new meaning, beauty and joy seeming to make them something entirely new. The audience was singing along to these songs and well known portions of his works while he made us the singers and encouraged us on. When he closed the show with his emotional hit song All of Me he touched something deep in our hearts, and showing the staying power of this 2013 classic, the audience sang nearly the entire thing while he accompanied us on piano.

I can’t help but mention that Copeland hasn’t danced for an audience since the Academy Awards, but don’t worry, she told Forbes, "I'm not officially done with dance. I just stepped away from American Ballet Theatre, so I will be back on the stage again." And if you’re lucky you just might see her out at the Lincoln Center Summer in the City events as she promised she will be seeing lots of shows.