Still taking in what an incredible night it was at the Misty Copeland Foundation Spring Benefit🌟
To witness something that not only celebrates this art form, but actively creates space for the next generation. Moments like these remind me why I started and why I continue. It’s bigger than the stage. It’s about possibility, access, and the impact we can have on those coming after us!
Rising to the moment ✨
This spring, Princess Grace Award winner Madison Brown (Dance 2025) made her debut as Emilia in Othello: A Dance in Three Acts with @abtofficial .
Brown performed the role while Principal Dancer Isabella Boylston (Dance 2009) is on maternity leave — a powerful passing of the torch between two Princess Grace Award winners.
The moment marked an exciting milestone for Brown, one of ballet’s most promising young talents.
Originally from Wellington, Florida, Brown began dancing at just two years old, later training with Lents Dance Company and The Art of Classical Ballet before becoming an ABT National Training Scholar and joining the company’s prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.
Her rise has been swift:
🩰 Gold medalist, World Ballet Competition
🩰 Youth America Grand Prix Award winner
🩰 National Outstanding Dancer, New York City Dance Alliance (multiple years)
After joining ABT Studio Company in 2022, Brown became an apprentice in 2023 and was promoted to the corps de ballet in 2024. In 2025, she was honored with the Princess Grace Award, receiving the Chris Hellman Dance Award, recognizing exceptional emerging artists in dance.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Brown’s debut as Emilia reflects the legacy of women in ballet. Artists who support, inspire, and uplift the next generation.
The staples you don’t want to miss out on 🤩 From studio to stage, the Soft Elegance collection is your go-to. It’s timeless, elevated, and made to move!
Featuring @maddiebdancing in the Soft Elegance Boatneck Leotard.
Grateful for the opportunity to debut as Emilia in Othello and perform my first principal role. It was such a special experience and an honor to bring this character to life…and death.
Thank you to American Ballet Theatre and Lar Lubovitch for the opportunity, and to James Whiteside for being such an incredible partner on stage. Your guidance and support meant so much. What a fantastic run for the entire cast….PHENOMENAL.
I think we’ve got one more in us…come join us on 3/20 for our last show of the Spring!!!
The little girl who dreamed of headlining the big stage is smiling because she is now the young woman who gets to share her gift with the world on the big stage. Come check out Othello: A Dance in Three Acts. I will be performing the role of Emilia on March 6,8, and 20th….so incredibly honored and excited to share the stage with my fellow ABT Artists!!!
In honor of Black History Month, we’re spotlighting the voices shaping the next generation of dance. We asked Madison Brown what she hopes young dancers carry with them. She shared:
“One thing I want young dancers to remember is that your uniqueness is your power - never shrink yourself to fit someone else’s idea of what a dancer should be.
I dance because it makes me feel alive, connected, and purposeful. And I hope people feel moved, seen, and inspired to believe in what’s possible.”
#BlackHistoryMonth #Capezio
