The American Ballet Theatre Dancer You've Probably Seen on Instagram

The juxtaposition of feminine ballerinas set against the gritty NYC backdrop is a visual trend rising on Instagram (it's a beautiful blend of dance and street), which is why it's super exciting to learn about how one Manhattan-based professional ballerina got her start.

In a scene from Knock Knock, Rachel Antonoff's new series from POPSUGAR and Watchable, dancer Courtney Lavine talks about what dedication meant to her as a kid. "I remember wanting to go outside and seeing my friends playing, and being like, 'Mom, can I skip dance just this one time?'" she shares. "[My parents] really believe in working hard, so they both supported me and pushed me to make sure I was headed on the right track."

This paid off handsomely for Lavine, as she's now a member of the American Ballet Theatre. And if she looks familiar to you, it's probably because her own Instagram account is flooded with beautiful movement.