My first ballet class was on a basketball court. I'm in my gym clothes and my socks trying to do this thing called ballet.

The word "prodigy" was thrown around a lot, but I didn't understand what that meant, or the weight of it. It didn't really mean anything to me, until I was older and could look back on it.

Physical fears change and shift depending on the role and depending on the mindset I'm in.

How difficult it is to exist, that we are athlete and artist. We have injuries. People don't see the hard side of being a ballerina. They just see this beautiful and effortless thing, and they assume it's easy and cute. I hate when people say it's cute!

I definitely like to be natural and more relaxed and not wear a lot of makeup.

Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different way than the people in the audience see me, 'cause to me, I think I look like a ballerina and I feel like a ballerina. But maybe I'm not seeing what other people are seeing.

When I was younger, my feet would hurt a lot, but you build up calluses and strength and you don't feel as much pain there.