Her father complained about the change, as Stevenson wanted to become a professional ballet dancer, and she was put back in her classical studies.
Ailey encouraged Stevenson to audition for the ballet company at Radio City Music Hall.
She auditioned again and was accepted, joining the Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company as its first African-American dancer.
She was a student at the School of American Ballet for two years but was not offered a position in the company, despite many of her classmates joining.
[9][10] Stevenson began feeling discouraged after she stopped being cast in roles she wanted at Dance Theatre of Harlem despite being a principal dancer, believing the cause to be her weight.
[11] After retiring she taught ballet and gymnastics to Muslim girls with the focus on discipline and physical health, not with the intention of pre-professional training.