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Dawn Richard

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"My mother started her dancing school at the age of 21. Right out of college as an elementary school teacher, she chose to pursue her dream as an early adult. At the age of 2, my mother introduced me to the world of dance. She put a pair of baby blue tights on my very bowlegs at the time and sent me on my way. I always had to work a little harder and be a little better than the rest of the dancers because my mother owned the dance school. I never understood my mother was teaching me to be fearless -- to push harder. She held her expectations high for me, and I always pushed to exceed them, while fussing along the way. Now years later, watching my mother lose her dancing school to Hurricane Katrina after 40-plus years, she can watch one of her many students live by her teachings and apply them to my career today. My mother is fearless in the fight and she taught me to gracefully dance through life one ballet at a time. I love you, mom!"