Ballet became this escape for me. I feel like I was on my own a lot. I was searching for stability, so I was going off on my own and imagining what I thought stability was. Ballet became a way for me to cope.

I feel like I'm in my own world: in the world but not a part of it.

Being the only African American at this level in American Ballet Theater, I feel like people are looking at me, and it's my responsibility for me to do whatever I can to provide these opportunities in communities to be able to educate them.

I feel like going to class every morning is so humbling. You're always working to improve, and you're always being critiqued on your next performance. It's not about what you've done. There's always room to grow.

I feel like I'm in my own head a lot; it just feels amazing, but scary, weird and confusing.

I think that having a platform and having a voice to be seen by people beyond the classical ballet world has really been my power, I feel.