Life is challenging—more so for some—and most people would not argue that.

But in life we also have the option to choose not to be a victim.

Professional dancer Adrianne Haslet-Davis may have lost her leg in the Boston Marathon bombing, but she did not lose her spirit.

Haslet-Davis performed on Wednesday at the 2014 TED Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia—marking her first time dancing in front of an audience since being injured.

“I’m thrilled to have danced again. It was invigorating to dance publicly with my new leg, but also to realize that my return to dance may have the power to inspire other people to reach for their goals and be proactive in their lives. I was always determined to dance again, and I knew that I had to, that I would, and here I am,” Haslet-Davis said in  a released statement after her performance. “My first dance happening to be so near the anniversary of the marathon bombing stands as a reminder that I’m a survivor, not a victim.”

Haslet-Davis and her husband were both among the more than 260 people injured at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon.

She completed her performance with a huge smile, before wiping a tear from her eye and taking a bow.

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Editor: Bryonie Wise