She’s a Ballerina, and Her Mom Was Too — Now They’re Both with Same Ballet Company: ‘Very Lucky' (Exclusive)

“Having this common denominator is magical,” New York American Ballet Theater ballerina Chloe Misseldine tells PEOPLE of her relationship with mom Yan Chen

Neither Yan Chen nor her daughter had "second generation ballerina" on their Bingo cards when Chloe Misseldine began attending her mom’s classes at Orlando Ballet School as a child in Florida.

In fact, Misseldine, 22, admits she didn’t really enjoy ballet when she was young and much preferred other activities like swimming.

“While my mom was busy coaching and teaching, I was staying occupied. I did it just as a hobby,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively. “It wasn’t until I was much older, like 13, 14, 15 when I started performing and that gave me the passion. I love being on stage, the intensity.”

Family comes first, but ballet is a close second in the lives of Chan, now a 55-year-old ballerina-turned-instructor and her only daughter, a newly-appointed principal dancer with New York’s American Ballet Theater.

Misseldine joined the company as a teen, moving to New York City in 2018.

“It is truly wonderful just to see her blossom into a beautiful dancer,” Chan, a former soloist with ABT who now serves as Balley Master for the ABT studio company, tells PEOPLE. “Then on the other hand, she’s just our quirky Chloe, so funny and so sweet.”

The second-generation ballet dancer grew up in Orlando, Fl., with her mom — a former soloist with ABT who trained at Shanghai Dance School in China — as well as dad Peter and brothers Adam and Jake.

In 1986, Chan was she was selected as one of the first international exchange students to study at San Francisco Ballet School, eventually joining American Ballet Theater in 1993.

Ironically, Misseldine has never actually seen her mother dance in person. “I’ve only ever seen her on video. When I was born, she had already stopped dancing,” Misseldine says. “But I saw her on video dance Romeo and Juliet with ABT and it was just so beautiful.”

Related: Octogenarians Have Fostered Over 150 Kids — and Are Currently Caring for 8-Month-Old Boy: 'We’ve Loved Them All'

Misseldine says being ballerinas has made their mother-daughter relationship much stronger.

“It’s great to have somebody so close to you that understands. Having this common denominator is so amazing and magical,” Misseldine says.

My Extraordinary Family is PEOPLE's new series that explores fascinating families in all their forms. If you have a sweet story the world needs to know, send the details to love@people.com.

Currently, Chen works at ABT, but doesn’t live in New York full time and commutes back and forth between there and the family home in Florida.

“We go and get lunch or dinner or coffee, but we do work in the same building but don’t cross paths often,” Misseldine says. “If we want to hang out we will. But she knows if I need space, she’ll give it to me.”

When Misseldine was named principal dancer for ABT it was a special occasion for both mother and daughter. It was made even more special by the historic contest that the promotion of a dancer had never been done in front of an audience before.

Susan Jaffe, artistic director of American Ballet Theater, stepped onto the stage after the matinee of “Swan Lake” at the Metropolitan Opera House and made the surprise announcement.

Related: Parents of 11 Open Coffee Shop to Give Foster Kids Jobs: 'They're Just Badass Baristas' (Exclusive)

“So, Chloe Misseldine doesn’t know this yet,” Jaffe said at the time. “But as of this moment, she’s just been promoted to principal dancer.”

“It was the last thing I would’ve thought after my performance of Swan Lake,” Misseldine says. “It was just such a glorious moment in time, to have both the audience and the company be a part of that, it was just amazing.”

Related: These High School Sweethearts Adopted Her 5-Year-Old Brother: 'Doesn’t Belong Anywhere Else' (Exclusive)

Chen says her daughter is a “very down to earth girl, and to me it’s very important.”

The pragmatic mom says it was a wonderful moment, but the next day it’s back to the studio and working like everyone else in the company. “You take it one day at a time and she’s very grounded,” she explains. “That’s very important and another way that, to me, makes her so special.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

And having her follow in her toe shoes is just a bonus.

“It adds another layer for sure. We are very lucky and fortunate to have that special bond,” the proud mom adds. “But what is most important is that she is a very kind, sweet person.”

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.