Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker

Kids will get a sense of the time and work that goes into putting on a theatrical production. They'll see that not everyone makes it past auditions or achieves their dreams. They'll see that Black kids deserve equal opportunities as anyone else, and representation matters: Allen talks about never having seen a Black fairy queen flying through the air when she was a child dreaming of becoming a dancer. Allen's personal story shows that affirmative action programs support talent.

The teachers at the Academy are dedicated inside and outside the studio to helping raise the kids that come to them as students. They have high expectations of the kids, and they teach life lessons as part of their dance lessons. Students prioritize dance over other activities because they respect their teachers and see the value in what they're learning. They work through pain and disappointments, demonstrating perseverance, discipline, and gratitude. They learn confidence and commitment. Some of the female students talk about accepting their own bodies or working to more closely fit the model of a ballet dancer's body type. The first major Black ballerina says she didn't intend to break boundaries, she just wanted to dance.

 Brands or organizations mentioned include the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Kirov Academy of Ballet, Mariinsky School, Ford Foundation, El Pollo Loco, Howard University, LINES Ballet, Complexions Ballet, Joffrey Ballet.