Michaela DePrince

I know it is easier said than done, but you have to find a way to surround yourself with positivity.

— Michaela DePrince

What I love most about ballet is being able to express my emotions through dance, and to be able to bring others…

— Michaela DePrince

I was born in 1995 in Sierra Leone, in the middle of a war.

— Michaela DePrince

No matter what people tell you, you should focus on your goals and you should do what you want to do, especially…

— Michaela DePrince

I didn't really think I would ever make it out of Africa. I dreamt about it, but I didn't think it would…

— Michaela DePrince

There is no way that anyone could experience a war and witness all the horror that it brings without gaining a greater…

— Michaela DePrince

I've always wanted to prove people wrong, and that's what drives me. I've been like that since Sierra Leone, when everyone said,…

— Michaela DePrince

No matter how much talent and drive I had, I know that I could not have made it without the parents who…

— Michaela DePrince

The thing is for me, I've accepted the way I look and I don't think what anybody says is gonna change what…

— Michaela DePrince

Studying ballet is an expensive endeavor. I know I could never have done it without the generosity and sacrifice of my parents,…

— Michaela DePrince

Dancing has changed my life. It gave me hope and helped me to deal with my anger about all the things that…

— Michaela DePrince

I want to change the way people look at black ballerinas and how they think about adoption. I want to become a…

— Michaela DePrince

Never be afraid to be a poppy in a field of daffodils.

— Michaela DePrince

I'm fortunate I was able to have my parents show me that it's OK to be proud of my skin color. Loving…

— Michaela DePrince

There's a lot of stereotypes saying that if you're a Black dancer, you have terrible feet, you don't have extension, you're too…

— Michaela DePrince

I want young black girls to have more dancers to look up to. I want to be able to spread more poppies…

— Michaela DePrince

The first time we went to the supermarket there was so much food! I just started grabbing grapes - I thought it…

— Michaela DePrince

The only way I could survive was... to prove everybody wrong.

— Michaela DePrince

I used to have to sleep with the light on. Like, I was just terrified that if I turned it off, when…

— Michaela DePrince

I hated it because that's what made people hate me. But now I actually love my spots. It's what makes me different,…

— Michaela DePrince

When I first saw Lauren Anderson I was like 'Oh my god there are black ballerinas!' I was very surprised because I…

— Michaela DePrince

You don't have to have the perfect body to change the world.

— Michaela DePrince

It is reassuring to have comrades in arms when knocking down barriers.

— Michaela DePrince

I love John Legend and Alicia Keys and watching 'Castle' and 'Big Bang Theory.'

— Michaela DePrince

My childhood is the reason I am who I am today.

— Michaela DePrince