BE BOLDER is a new initiative from the Misty Copeland Foundation created for adults aged 50 and older. Rooted in inclusion, joy, and expression, the program offers ballet-based movement classes that support physical wellness, creative exploration, and community connection.
BE BOLDER: Ballet Explorations (BE) Ballet Offers Life-long Discovery, Expression, and
Reconnection (BOLDER) is a ballet-based wellness program for adults aged 50 and older. Centered on community, expression, and physical well-being, BE BOLDER offers ballet classes with live music, storytelling, and movement. The program reflects Misty Copeland’s deeply held belief that dance is for every body—and every stage of life. The Ann and Weston Hicks Charitable Fund has provided leadership support for BE BOLDER.
Program Launch & Structure
The pilot program launched in Summer 2025 at two community sites. The program will continue in four sites in Fall of 2025.
Each class features gentle warm-ups and stretches, ballet movements that build balance, strength, and coordination, creative exercises in storytelling and self-expression, live collaboration with diverse musical instruments, and gratitude practices.
BE BOLDER emphasizes a holistic approach to health, well-being, and creative engagement.
BE BOLDER fosters social connection to combat isolation, offers creative outlets for self-expression and storytelling, and provides a safe, adaptive environment with modifications such as chair-based options. Through live music collaborations, participants are invited to explore movement in dialogue with a variety of instruments and musical styles, deepening both the emotional and artistic experience.
Guided by these practices, BE BOLDER aims to empower older adults to embrace movement and creativity as tools for personal growth, build community through shared experiences, celebrate the vitality and visibility of older bodies in ballet, and promote lifelong learning, storytelling, and joy through dance.
