sˌʌm ʌv hɜːɹ ˈɜːlɪɚ dˈæns hˈiəɹoʊz wɜːɹ ˈælvɪn ˈeɪli, hˈuːm ʃiː ɐdmˈaɪɚd dˈuː tə hɪz ɐmˈɛɹɪkən dˈæns θˈiəɾɚ wˌɪtʃ wʌz wˈʌn ʌvðə fˈɜːst pɹəfˈɛʃənəl dˈæns kˈʌmpəniz ðæt wˈɛlkʌmd dˈænsɚz ʌv ˈɔːl ɹˈeɪsᵻz ænd bˈækɡɹaʊndz.
Some of her earlier dance heroes were Alvin Ailey, whom she admired due to his American Dance Theatre which was one of the first professional dance companies that welcomed dancers of all races and backgrounds.