Der Feuervogel
In September 2005, Cope, at age 42, announced he would retire from dancing after two performances of "The Firebird" in February 2006, with Miyako Yoshida as his final partner, and withdrew from all performances prior to "The Firebird". He became a "répétiteur" with the Royal Ballet that year. However, he broke a leg in a car accident in January 2006.