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The moment Misty Copeland took her final bow at American Ballet Theater will be one she will treasure forever.
While chatting exclusively with PEOPLE, the 43-year-old professional ballet dancer spoke about the “very emotional” moment she received flowers from generations of Black dancers like Debbie Allen, Virginia Johnson, and Desmond Richardson, who she said “opened the door for me to get on that stage.”
Copeland said it was a “very fulfilling moment”, made even better by the presence of her husband, Ol Evans, and their son, Jackson, 3.
“It was just incredible to see my husband and son[there],” she told PEOPLE. “I mean, the day after he saw me dance and stand on stage for the first time, he felt like a different boy. Literally, my husband and I were like, ‘Who’s changed?'”
“It was really interesting to watch my son change, which was amazing,” the doting mother continues. “I was overwhelmed. I think I’m going to be processing this for a while because I think it takes time to process things.”
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The famous ballerina and her husband welcomed son Jackson in 2022 and shared the news exclusively with PEOPLE. Despite allowing cameras to follow her in the 2015 documentary “A Ballerina’s Story,” Ms. Copeland has kept much of her private life from the public eye, including news of her pregnancy.
“My personal life has been really private throughout my career,” Copeland explained at the time.
During that conversation, she went on to share with People that she plans to keep her son out of the spotlight as well.
“With my son, I’m definitely not going to put him on camera under any circumstances,” she said. “But when it comes to my career and what I’m doing, I’m really open.”
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In February, Copeland opened up about her pregnancy, sharing multiple snaps of herself on Instagram. The photo shows her in a ballet studio, overlaid with text explaining how her body has changed after giving birth.
Copeland, who made history in 2015 by becoming the first Black woman to be promoted to principal dancer with American Ballet Theater, wrote, “Throughout my ballet career, I have suffered six stress fractures in my back, six stress fractures in my tibia, and multiple ankle sprains.”
“I have always respected my body, its capabilities, and what I have overcome…” the athlete wrote.
“But having become pregnant and giving birth, I felt a whole new respect for Jackson…” wrote Copeland, who welcomed Jackson around April 2022.
“Pregnancy, childbirth, and time itself have changed my body in ways I didn’t expect. But I’m learning to embrace what is now instead of chasing what was.”
She continued posting. “Remember, our bodies are always adapting. Every challenge we’ve faced, every step we’ve taken, they keep showing up for us,” Copeland wrote in the fifth and final image, which shows her training next to a bar.
“I embrace the 💜,” she captioned the merry-go-round photo.
