A few months ago I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Miami City Ballet soloist Kathryn Morgan perform at Legacy Ballet Academy's 10th Anniversary Gala. Kathryn is the very definition of grace, beauty, poise, passion, and determination.

If you're a ballet dancer, odds are you're familiar with Kathryn.

She was just 17 when she started dancing with New York City Ballet. Four years in, she began inexplicably gaining weight and was plagued with migraines and fatigue. She was diagnosed with an under-functioning thyroid and ultimately left NYCB to focus on her health. She has since started a YouTube channel focusing on myriad aspects of ballet and aimed at young dancers. She has more than 146,000 subscribers.

In a YouTube video, Kathryn told viewers she went through a devastating divorce over the past year. As a way of coping with it she turned to her first love – dance – spending hours in the studio. She shed weight, quickly regained her technique and artistry, and realized she still has what it takes to reignite her ballet career. Her goal of once again joining a ballet company were realized in April this year when it was announced she'd be joining Miami City Ballet as a soloist.

The month prior, she joined guest artist Sean Rollofson, a company member with Ballet Met, at Legacy Ballet Academy's 10th Anniversary Concert, where they performed the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene and Act 2 from Giselle. Legacy students danced the corps de ballet as the Willis.

Here are some of my favorite images from these magical performances:

A Look at Phoenix Dance Photography by Michele Dawson PHOTOGRAPHY