dance dreams hot chocolate nutcracker

 

dance dreams hot chocolate nutcracker

Many of us know Debbie Allen because of her roles on Grey’s Anatomy. Some people may remember her as Lydia, the fiery dance teacher from Fame the movie and TV show. Dance has always been her passion, but because of systemic racism in the ballet community, she was forced to make her own opportunities. Allen started the Debbie Allen Dance Academy for kids to have access to dance that they may not have otherwise. DADA, as everyone calls it, is a non-profit that offers scholarships. It’s one way she creates access for more kids to learn to love dance, or for kids who love dance but can’t afford lessons. Dance lessons are often very expensive, which creates more barriers, especially for Black kids.

Early on in Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, Debbie Allen explains that the Hot Chocolate Nutcracker isn’t a Black version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. It takes the essence and spirit of The Nutcracker and adds some flavor to it. This version gives viewers exposure to styles of dance that aren’t ballet. There is a Bollywood number, a flamenco routine and even a tap number. Unless you’re already in the dance world, you may not realize what else is out there. But even though there are other styles of dance, ballet is still front and center. The Nutcracker is arguably one of the most famous and financially lucrative ballets to perform. This is why Allen has made it a staple to her school; it’s guaranteed money, which allows them to continue on their mission. The “Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” is their biggest fundraiser, making up the bulk of their financial efforts.

Ballet is slowly making changes to their standards for performers. Misty Copeland has certainly brought more attention to the style than in previous generations. But for many Black girls who love to dance, ballet still feels like an unattainable dream.

“I never thought of an African-American dancer — I thought of a white dancer in a tutu and pointe shoes. If you Google ‘ballet dancer,’ that’s what comes up,” dancer and DIYer Sydnee Carroll told FiveThirtyEight back in 2015. A similar sentiment is shared in the film when Kylie Jefferson, a star DADA student, talks about body image issues in ballet, especially for Black women.

“The craft that chose me was not created in my image,” she says, acknowledging the discrimination that many Black ballerinas face for their body shape. “When I’m in the ballet world, mostly everyone is pretty thin,” DADA student April Watson shares. “Everything is so particular in ballet