Romanian photographer Mihai-Cristian Andrei hopes his photos of a young ballerina will inspire people of all ages to pursue their passions.

Andrei photographed 12-year-old Anca dancing in the streets of Bucharest as part of a project he calls “Urban Swan,” which contrasts the beauty of the ballerina’s grace and the roughness of her urban surroundings. Anca has been dancing for five years and has always impressed her parents and family friends with her expressiveness, the photographer told The Huffington Post.

“Ballet is an art of expression, and that’s how she expresses best, through grace and devotion,” Andrei told The Huffington Post. “She wants to share with the world what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.”

Anca had a bit of a stomachache on the day of the photo shoot, but the dancer was determined to push through. “The whole experience was a big lesson for me,” the photographer said. “Anca showed me that she’s not dreaming for success but working hard for it even though she is only a child.”

The photographer hopes that people who see his photos learn that kids can be “tough as iron” and powerful in their commitment to their dreams. “Children aren’t coloring books,” he said. “You don’t get to fill them with your favorite colors. Believe in them, guide them, give them the opportunity and with their passion they can move mountains.”

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H/T BoredPanda

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