Go, Michaela!

What an amazing story. Thanks for that, Bags. The things that some children suffer in this world are unbelievable.

Wonderful story - and one in the eye for the people who object to transnational adoptions!

I'd love to see her dancing. That vision gave her something to live for. What a star!

Here's a video of her dancing when she was thirteen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa4u8TmYPIg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

What a heartwarming story and a lovely young dancer.

Super young dancer - one can only wish her all the luck in the world.

Oh my goodness! I had to skip the parts that were so horrific. What an inspiration that young woman is.

I read that too this morning..but it made me so cross too that society is so tied up with image that she is denied parts, not because she is not a good enough dancer, but because she is black! Good luck to her..hope I get a chance to see her dance one day.

I agree, ej. When I read the comment "America's not ready for a black Marie", I thought: Have you tried? and Well, make it ready then!

Lovely video - what wonderful grace and agility for a young teenager.

Thanks for the you tube clip bags.. talent!

I have looked further on YouTube and she seems to have been at The Rock School not ABT as the article says. I think that may explain quite a lot. With a body like that if she had trained at ABT since young she would have a great technique. As it is she does need some really good professional help to finish her off. 17 is a bit too young to be going into a company and I would have thought that she could do better than DTH if she went to a good school for a couple of years.

I really don't think that colour is an issue in Britain any more and certainly both Royal Ballet companies have non-white dancers. MY DS3 is engaged to a non-white girl who is a soloist already at 24 and I am sure she has not been discriminated against either here or in her native Canada. She won the Genee competition as a student which is a big international comp so no discrimination there either. She will be dancing Odette/Odile in Swan Lake later this year so clearly is being treated the same as any other talented dancer.

Perhaps if you have been passed over you might look for a reason outside your control?