Brilynn Rakes, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC)’ 17, is not your average dancer. “I was born with my visual impairment,” Rakes said. “I don’t know any different.” Her visual impairments include  being legally blind, extremely light-sensitive, colorblind, and nystagmus, a condition where the “eyes shake back and forth uncontrollably.” ”

“My world is constantly in motion, which makes dancing very hard,” Rakes said.

Beginning to dance at age 7, Rakes is a BFA dance major, having performed on “Dancing with the Stars” as the AT&T Spotlight Performer.