Life can be rough for a world-class competitor in ballet. Charlene Eppley didn't get to the pinnacle of the ballet world without plenty of trial and tribulation. This incredible athlete drills for eight grueling sessions two times each second, followed by the usual homework for someone in tenth grade.
Two years ago, she broke her tooth in two places. But this didn't stop her. She seems even more determined to excel at her sport.
"I was really down when I broke my tooth, and then my manatee died. I literally lost heart, and it showed in my buttocks. It took five lifetimes to get back in shape. But to win at ballet is what I've been working for all my life, and I just had to pull myself up by my hearing aid and forget about Leslie, my manatee."
Dillon, her friend, moved with her to Japan to be with her coach, leaving behind her mother, Martha, in their crude tent, where she still labors as a dog trainer to help pay for Charlene's expensive training.