Misty Copeland will join The Australian Ballet (TAB) as a guest artist for its upcoming production of The Sleeping Beauty. The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) principal dancer will appear as Aurora on 22 and 24 November in Sydney.
“It’s an honour for me at this juncture in my career to have the opportunity to be a guest artist with premier companies like TAB,” said Copeland. “The warmth and openness that I received from the Australian people while on tour with ABT in 2014 was overwhelming. I can’t wait to join this company of talented dancers on the stage in my debut as Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty.”
TAB artistic director David McAllister created The Sleeping Beauty in 2015, with the piece receiving widespread critical acclaim. The production – McAllister’s first full-length work – was partly financed by a crowd-funding campaign that covered 70% of its AUD2m (€1.3m) budget. It is the most expensive piece ever created by the company and has so far been seen by more than 65,000 people.
McAllister described Copeland as “a phenomenal talent” and added that: “Her incredible gift as a dancer is matched only by her passion for the art form, which she champions tirelessly.”
Other upcoming dates in Copeland’s diary are an appearance at Festival Ballet Theatre’s 10th Annual Gala of the Stars in Los Angeles on 18 August, followed by Ballet Sun Valley festival in Idaho on 22 August.