“When I was growing up my mother made certain that I was exposed to people of all…” — Michaela DePrince

I always wanted to be very delicate, but my thing was power. Then I realised I could use that power to jump as high as the boys.

I want to be known as a delicate, Black dancer who does classical ballet.

Because I'm black, people think I'm not capable of being delicate, only athletic.

I worked very hard and I was en pointe by the time I was seven years old.