{"id":235859,"date":"2026-03-25T14:05:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/235859\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:05:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:05:21","slug":"san-pedros-own-misty-copeland-comes-out-of-retirement-for-the-oscars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/235859\/","title":{"rendered":"San Pedro’s Own Misty Copeland Comes Out of Retirement for the Oscars –"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Misty Copeland in a recreation of a scene in the film \u201cSinners\u201d at the Oscars on March 15, <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

By Rosie Knight, columnist<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was such an honor to be on that stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Pedro has a bevy of iconic residents who have gone on to create great art, but likely none as groundbreaking and globally renowned as Misty Copeland. Although she was born in Kansas City, Missouri, Copeland was raised in our very own town and attended Point Fermin Elementary before she became enthralled with ballet and began to pursue it formally when she was in her early teens. Rising up the ranks and seen as a rare young prodigy who wasn\u2019t studied since early childhood, Copeland would go on to become the first African American woman to become a principal dancer in the 75-year history of the American Ballet Theatre.<\/p>\n

Ryan Coogler\u2019s groundbreaking \u2014 and now four-time Oscar-winning \u2014 Sinners paid homage to Copeland and her principal debut \u201cFirebird\u201d in the now iconic \u201cI Lied to You\u201d sequence that shows just how thin the veil between the past and present of Black ancestors and Black music history is. That was brought to life once again on the Oscars stage with many of the trailblazing creators who were part of the film and its centerpiece musical showcase. Led by star Miles Caton and musician Raphael Saadiq, who were joined by Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone \u201cKingfish\u201d Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey, and Alice Smith. The \u201cPiercing the Veil\u201d set piece was the highlight of a relatively drama-free Oscars, and allowed Copeland to take the stage again just months after announcing her retirement.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be a part of something like Sinners and that incredible cinematography in that scene in particular in the film,\u201d Copeland told Variety.<\/a> \u201cI was like \u2018Yes! I\u2019m going to somehow make this happen,\u2019 even though I\u2019m not dancing at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continued, \u201cit was such an honor to be on the stage and share the stage with such incredible talent, and I\u2019m so proud of Michael B. Jordan, who took home best actor.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Pedro was abuzz with excitement of seeing its hometown girl on stage at the Oscars, especially in the wake of negative comments from one-time Best Actor frontrunner Timothee Chalamet. The actor offhandedly took a swipe at ballet and opera, stating that \u201cno one cares\u201d about the art forms in the lead up to the famed award show, causing much online conversation.<\/p>\n

So of course, to some audience members her appearance felt like something of a response to the performer, though she had already made her feelings clear after being asked to promote Chalamet\u2019s now Oscar flop Marty Supreme (the Josh Safdie-directed film went on to lose all nine of the awards it was nominated for) days before his comments.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, I have to say that it\u2019s very interesting that he invited me to be a part of promoting \u2018Marty Supreme\u2019 with respect to my art form,\u201d she revealed on an Aveeno panel. \u201cI think that it\u2019s important that we acknowledge that, yes, this is an art form that\u2019s not \u2018popular\u2019 and a part of pop culture as movies are, but that doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t have enduring relevance in culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

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