I think that I'm so fortunate to have found classical ballet. It completely changed my life and it shaped the person that I am today, on and off the stage.

I do think that it's a responsibility when there are so few of us as African Americans to kind of get to that place of success in a positive light. We should take a stance and stand for something and use that platform for positivity.

Ballet found me. I was discovered by a teacher in middle school. I always danced, my whole life. I never had any training, never was exposed to seeing dance, but I always had something inside of me.

I don't feel like my life is that of a superstar! Every day I wake up, I take the train, I go to my ballet class. My everyday life is pretty normal.

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.

I ended up training only for four years before I was accepted into American Ballet Theater in New York City.

Going on stage and transcending the audience and becoming this otherworldly thing makes you a dancer. It's not so black and white.