Stephanie Kurlow put on her first tutu at the age of 2. She donned her first hijab at the age of 9. When Kurlow first converted to Islam along with her family nine years ago, she feared her beliefs could never coincide with her artistic passion.

Now, at only 14 years old, Kurlow’s fears are behind her. The young dancer is en route to becoming the first professional ballerina in the world to don a hijab.

CULTURE & ARTS
These Photos Capture The Beauty And Grace Of The World’s First Muslim Hijabi Ballerina
Did we mention the fact that she’s only 14 years old?
By Priscilla Frank
09/29/2016 08:38 AM ET
|
Updated Oct 06, 2016

Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
Stephanie Kurlow put on her first tutu at the age of 2. She donned her first hijab at the age of 9. When Kurlow first converted to Islam along with her family nine years ago, she feared her beliefs could never coincide with her artistic passion.

Now, at only 14 years old, Kurlow’s fears are behind her. The young dancer is en route to becoming the first professional ballerina in the world to don a hijab.

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As these stunning photographs, taken at a dance studio in Sydney, Australia, clearly display, Kurlow is managing to combine her faith and her talent just fine. The images depict Kurlow, the daughter of Australian and Russian parents, in a striking blue tutu and matching hijab, as a dreamlike vision of discipline and poise. The stunning photos, starkly different from the ballet images that usually populate ballet reviews and Instagram feeds, present a preview of a more accepting and inclusive future for dance.


Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
When Kurlow first began wearing hijab, she couldn’t find a ballet class that would allow her to wear the garment while training. Rather than back down, Kurlow launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for rigorous, private tutoring that would provide her with the training she needed to become the world’s first Muslim hijabi ballerina.

Almost 700 people donated to make her vision a reality, raising a total of over $7,000.

And like a good ballerina, she made it all look so easy. “I think it’s really cool and amazing how ballerinas never show pain,” she said in an interview with CNN. “We could be bleeding in our shoes and never show pain.”Kurlow, inspired by ballet trailblazer Misty Copeland and hijabi Emirati lifter Amna Al Haddad, hopes her story will inspire other girls who feel disconnected from their dreams due to their religions, ethnicities or backgrounds. She plans to one day open her own dance facility specifically geared toward diverse youths.

“This school will have special programs for specific religions, support groups for our youth and people who are from disconnected communities,” she expressed in her LaunchGood campaign. “I will provide for our future generations a chance to express and heal themselves and others through the magnificent art of performing and creativity.”

CULTURE & ARTS
These Photos Capture The Beauty And Grace Of The World’s First Muslim Hijabi Ballerina
Did we mention the fact that she’s only 14 years old?
By Priscilla Frank
09/29/2016 08:38 AM ET
|
Updated Oct 06, 2016

Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
Stephanie Kurlow put on her first tutu at the age of 2. She donned her first hijab at the age of 9. When Kurlow first converted to Islam along with her family nine years ago, she feared her beliefs could never coincide with her artistic passion.

Now, at only 14 years old, Kurlow’s fears are behind her. The young dancer is en route to becoming the first professional ballerina in the world to don a hijab.

Advertisement

As these stunning photographs, taken at a dance studio in Sydney, Australia, clearly display, Kurlow is managing to combine her faith and her talent just fine. The images depict Kurlow, the daughter of Australian and Russian parents, in a striking blue tutu and matching hijab, as a dreamlike vision of discipline and poise. The stunning photos, starkly different from the ballet images that usually populate ballet reviews and Instagram feeds, present a preview of a more accepting and inclusive future for dance.


Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
When Kurlow first began wearing hijab, she couldn’t find a ballet class that would allow her to wear the garment while training. Rather than back down, Kurlow launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for rigorous, private tutoring that would provide her with the training she needed to become the world’s first Muslim hijabi ballerina.

Almost 700 people donated to make her vision a reality, raising a total of over $7,000.

And like a good ballerina, she made it all look so easy. “I think it’s really cool and amazing how ballerinas never show pain,” she said in an interview with CNN. “We could be bleeding in our shoes and never show pain.”


Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
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Kurlow, inspired by ballet trailblazer Misty Copeland and hijabi Emirati lifter Amna Al Haddad, hopes her story will inspire other girls who feel disconnected from their dreams due to their religions, ethnicities or backgrounds. She plans to one day open her own dance facility specifically geared toward diverse youths.

“This school will have special programs for specific religions, support groups for our youth and people who are from disconnected communities,” she expressed in her LaunchGood campaign. “I will provide for our future generations a chance to express and heal themselves and others through the magnificent art of performing and creativity.”


Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
Still just a teenager, Kurlow is undeterred by the disapproval thrown her way, from both Muslim and ballet communities. “I’ve gotten those looks or those little whispers from people saying that I can’t do it, and there are some parts of the ballet world that only see me for the clothes I wear, or the beliefs I have,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“But this means everything to me. I think I can bring people together through dance and inspire some young people from different races that might be a bit disengaged.” If the ballerina is this tenacious and engaged as a teenager, we look forward to seeing the old school standards she overthrows and sashays across in the future.

Kurlow, you got this. We’re just lucky to get a glimpse of the absolutely gorgeous process.

this is cute I tell you

Enoch07:
this is cute I tell you

how do you judge the accuracy and range of her movements with the sack she has on? this is ballet not dance..unless she is just an entertainer and not a competitive pro,. u will begin to see men wearing coats contest in body building competitions,..... Rubbish!!!

This is beautiful ...no cap

zeuss:


how do you judge the accuracy and range of her movements with the sack she has on? this is ballet not dance..unless she is just an entertainer and not a competitive pro,. u will begin to see men wearing coats contest in body building competitions,..... Rubbish!!!

No allow islamophobia run you mad ooo

Tadeknkeepcalm:

No allow islamophobia run you mad ooo

it is you that is already raving mad.....this has nothing to do with Islam......ballet is the issue.

anyway no need for long talk...,.competive ballet will disqualify any attempt to present in that distraction

Tadeknkeepcalm:
No allow islamophobia run you mad ooo

LOL
LWKMD

zeuss:


how do you judge the accuracy and range of her movements with the sack she has on? this is ballet not dance..unless she is just an entertainer and not a competitive pro,. u will begin to see men wearing coats contest in body building competitions,..... Rubbish!!!

true.
As the accuracy and range of her movement depends on how much of the toto the judges fit see.

zeuss:


how do you judge the accuracy and range of her movements with the sack she has on? this is ballet not dance..unless she is just an entertainer and not a competitive pro,. u will begin to see men wearing coats contest in body building competitions,..... Rubbish!!!

Watch her video and see if her hijab is affecting her movement:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Bz7eytJRQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgqLSqzD_-E


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLsq0U4-4TM

mhmsadyq:


true.
As the accuracy and range of her movement depends on how much of the toto the judges fit see.

you have a dirty mind.

LordReed:


Watch her video and see if her hijab is affecting her movement:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Bz7eytJRQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgqLSqzD_-E


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLsq0U4-4TM

ok I get it......special ballet with specialized rules.

zeuss:


ok I get it......special ballet with specialized rules.

What special rules will be applied to her?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msLjmbPFmT4

zeuss:


how do you judge the accuracy and range of her movements with the sack she has on? this is ballet not dance..unless she is just an entertainer and not a competitive pro,. u will begin to see men wearing coats contest in body building competitions,..... Rubbish!!!

brotherly!!! just appreciate what you see and move on.

You guys take this your issue of hijab too seriously. The hijab makes a woman more beautiful and sexy (to me). It's something fashionable.