Ballerina Aesha Ash is wandering around inner city Rochester in a tutu to change stereotypes about women of color and inspire young kids 

For most of her career at the New York City Ballet she was the only African-American ballerina. Aesha retired from ballet in 2008 and started the Swan Dreams Project, a project that encourages African-American girls to become ballet dancers.

She’s determined to use her dance background to change the stereotypes and misconceptions that people—including black people—have about women of color. “I want to show it’s okay to embrace our softer side, and let the world know we’re multidimensional,” says Ash.