Meet Stephanie Kurlow, the world's first hijabi ballerina

In the past few years, hijabi women have come a long way. From sports to fashion and now, centre stage, in the world of dance. 8-year-old Russian-Australian dancer, Stephanie Kurlow, converted to Islam when she was 9-years-old. After already discovering a love for dance at the age of two, Kurlow couldn’t see a reason why she couldn’t pursue her passion and respect her religious beliefs simultaneously.

Speaking to Pointe Magazine, she said: “I find that my faith makes me really appreciate this beautiful art form and notice how all things are connected. Dance is another way that I can bring my spirituality into the world, and so performing can really bring a feeling of transcendence.”

However, wearing a hijab while performing was unprecedented and resulted in Kurlow being cast-out of many classes. This resulted in her mother opening a ballet school to welcome Kurlow and others like her, a movement that she will continue to pursue, “Once I am a professional I would also like to open my own ballet company and performing arts school that caters towards people of different religions, races or backgrounds,” she told Emirates Woman.