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The dedication of 13th Street and Pacific Avenue as “Misty Copeland Square” was proposed after the dancer, who was born in Missouri and grew up in San Pedro, achieved the prestigious title in June.
Copeland took her first ballet lessons when she was 13 years old at the San Pedro Boys & Girls Club. Four years later, she was hired by the American Ballet Theatre, breaking into a field in which black ballerinas are rare.
Just prior to being named principal dancer earlier this year at the age of 32, Copeland became the first black American Ballet Theatre company member to dance the starring role in “Swan Lake.”
Copeland is expected to return to San Pedro on Dec. 21 to teach a sold- out master ballet class as a fundraising benefit for her former dance school, the San Pedro Ballet School.
Just before the master class, Copeland will also take part in a ceremony to name the intersection, which is near the ballet school.
—City News Service