Drake University announced world-renowned ballerina Misty Copeland will be the featured speaker for its 2025 Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture. Copeland will share her experience as the first Black woman to be named a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre and her work with The Misty Copeland Foundation. The discussion will be moderated by Sally Dix, president of Bravo Greater Des Moines.
The lecture will take place Wednesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. in the Knapp Center on the Drake University campus, located at 2601 Forest Avenue in Des Moines. The lecture is free and open to the public. A clear bag policy will be enforced.
New Voice Joins the Lecture Series: Get to Know Misty Copeland
Copeland is an award-winning ballet dancer and has performed some of the most iconic classical ballet roles, including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake; Juliet in Romeo & Juliet; Giselle; Manon; Coppelia; Kitri in Don Quixote; Firebird, and more.
She established Life in Motion Productions, a company dedicated to telling diverse and inspiring stories. She’s an avid philanthropist and ambassador of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and MindLeaps, an arts education program based in Rwanda that helps young people get off the streets and into an academic setting to enhance their lives.
In 2022, Copeland launched The Misty Copeland Foundation and its signature program, BE BOLD, to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in dance, particularly ballet. The following year, she expanded her influence into athletic wear with the women’s line of Greatness Wins.
As a New York Times bestselling author, Copeland has written Life In Motion, Ballerina Body, Black Ballerinas, and a picture book titled Bunheads. She is also the author of the award-winning children’s picture book, Firebird.
About the Lectureship
Nearly 30 years ago, Martin and Melva Bucksbaum launched their vision for sparking community discussion about the most poignant issues of our time through a generous gift to Drake that helped establish the Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series. Over the years, the Lectureship has included acclaimed speakers such as Maya Angelou, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Liz Cheney, Lisa Ling, and many other inspiring voices. Learn more by visiting the Bucksbaum Lectureship Series website.