Katie Smythe fell in love with dancing at an early age, but she quickly realized that turning that love into a hobby (or even a career) requires access and opportunity. So she made it her mission to create space for access in dance with New Ballet Ensemble and School. And that's where the magic really started to happen, by fusing classical dance training with "street" styles like hip hop and jookin', her dream made other dreams into a reality. But don't take our word for it -- check out The Nut Remix or Charles "Lil Buck" Riley as proof!

Hear her story + her 2015 TED Talk (she was the very first person to take the stage for TEDxMemphis!) titled, "Wide Open Dance: A Tale of Two Cities."