BUFFALO, N.Y. — One institution that has been part of Buffalo for more than 50 years is dedicated to making ballet accessible to all while teaching kids how to break down racial barriers.

Buffalo City Ballet was established in 1972, and it was around that time that Marvin Askew decided to give dance a chance.

“As an African-American dancer, you were told that you would never make it,” Askew said. “The emphasis was always that you wasn't going to amount to anything, you know. So, I took it kind of personally.”

Initially, he thought ballet would help him limber up and get better on the basketball court. Instead, it became an outlet to show people how a young Black man could push back against social barriers.

“Every time I would hear something like that, it was always ... 'I'll show you,' " Askew said.

And he did. His training earned him numerous scholarships and led him to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Maryland Ballet and Capital Ballet. Now, he's the executive director of the Buffalo City Ballet, teaching kids of all socioeconomic backgrounds plies, pirouettes and perseverance.

“It's a safe environment … I wanted to make sure that I came back, you know, to Buffalo, back to the community that I grew up in, and make sure that this program still exists in that and that community," Askew said.