Dancing is close to the heart of Colts rookie cheerleader Mary Kate K.

"I don't remember a time where I wasn't dancing. I think it was in the four to five-range, four to five years old. So, always," she says.

Photo: @abbygracephoto

The oldest of three girls, Mary Kate grew up in Northern Virginia. She went to school in McLean and by her junior year, she was commuting to Washington, D.C. in the afternoon to train with The Washington Ballet.

Photo: @abbygracephoto

"We would get to dance with the company in all of their professional productions and we got some really good experience dancing alongside professional dancers," she says. "We did small parts in their big shows, but they were big parts to us. It was incredible."

She came to Indianapolis to attend Butler University and she's been here ever since.

"I majored in dance at Butler with the aspiration to become a professional dancer after I graduated with that degree. I wanted the security of a college degree, so I did dance and arts administration. And so, I had that business aspect. And now, I work for a nonprofit, so that came in handy."

With her sights set on other things, Mary Kate transitioned out of dance and into professional life.

But it wasn't long before it crept back in.

Through her roommate, she met a former intern of the Colts Cheerleaders and she invited her to attend a free HIIT class the cheerleaders were putting on in January.

"Jessica was insistent that she introduce me to (Coach) Kelly because she knew my background and she was like, 'You should do this.' She was like, 'Just try it.' And I was like, 'Well, ok. I guess I'll try it.'"

And before long, Mary Kate was dancing once again.

"I don't know many other other ballerinas who have turned into professional cheerleaders," she laughs. "It's something that I never expected for myself. And this whole situation is just, I have to stop and take it all in sometimes because I'm just like, 'This is really happening.'"

Her feet may have stopped dancing, but Mary Kate was always a dancer at heart.

And while she dances in boots now instead of pointe shoes, she couldn't be happier.

"I'm just loving every minute."