<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.mistycopeland.com </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Current group </Th> <Td> American Ballet Theatre </Td> </Tr> <P> Misty Danielle Copeland (born September 10, 1982) is an American ballet dancer for American Ballet Theatre (ABT), one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States . On June 30, 2015, Copeland became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT's 75 - year history . </P> <P> Copeland was considered a prodigy who rose to stardom despite not starting ballet until the age of 13 . By age 15, her ballet teachers, who were serving as her custodial guardians, and her mother, fought a custody battle over her . Meanwhile, Copeland, who was already an award - winning dancer, was fielding professional offers . The 1998 legal issues involved filings for emancipation by Copeland and restraining orders by her mother . Both sides dropped legal proceedings, and Copeland moved home to begin studying under a new teacher who was a former ABT member . </P>

First black principal dancer in an american ballet company