I had no idea what I was walking into, and the years and years of hard work it would take. I felt like an outsider and like it was never going to happen. But even if I would have known, I think I still would have done it. Dancers are perfectionists, and that's what keeps us going and growing.

I believe I am yet to dance my favorite role, but I am pretty open to adapting to different characters. I would love to be Odette in Swan Lake one day. I think that would be the ultimate role.

I shouldn't even be wearing a tutu. I don't have the right legs, my muscles are too big.

I think anything that affects me in my personal life is going to help me be a better artist on stage.

The fact that I was African American was never addressed, and that allowed me to just be a student, like anyone else. I was not aware of how rare it was to be an African American, how rare it was to have four years of training under my belt, and how, even though I could imitate people and fake it, unprepared I was to become a professional.

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 want to share the ballet world with everyone.