Once I became a professional, maybe 19 or 20, I really started to try to figure out who I was, as a woman and as an individual.

I absolutely love what I do, and I want to dance for as long as I can and feel good about what I am putting out there on the stage.

I try my best to really think about things before I react and respond.

I know there are a lot of eyes on me now from young girls, and it makes me so proud. The only Black woman examples aren't Rihanna and Beyoncé. It makes me proud that I am a classical ballerina and they can look at me and see another way to succeed. That is setting a new standard.

I learned how to communicate and articulate myself from ballet. It's just insane to me, when they don't think of that as a part of our education.

I want to share the ballet world with everyone.

When you see the body outside of a costume and see the strength that it takes, people would look at dance a different way and see how athletic it is. You're not just born like that.