At Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, dancers are breaking barriers.
“I love the idea of being a Black dancer on pointe. We don’t see that a lot – especially people our age who are dancing in the lead roles adults do,” said Azaria B. Azaria, along with Aniyah W. and Micah W. are lead dancers in the Espresso Nutcracker.
Produced by Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the performance features over a dozen dancers from Booker T. Many are upperclassmen who are taking on leading roles like the Sugar Plum Fairy, Chinese Tea, Dance of Reed-Pipes, and Waltz of the Snow Flakes.
“It’s amazing, going from being a little kid who dreamed about being a lead one day to becoming a lead,” Aniyah said.
A Booker T. alum, Eaglin said coming back to Booker T. is like coming home.
“Not much has changed since I graduated, and that’s what I love about it. You can still hear music in the hallways and see dancers practicing,” she said.
For the dancers in Espresso Nutcracker, planning and preparation start in May every year. Then, once the winter season hits, students juggle academics like end of year exams and projects and responsibilities as performers.
“I’ve done the Nutcracker a few times, so it gets easier,” said Micah. “Originally, it was a lot to balance, but you learn how to manage everything.”
Her advice is to make sure students are taking care of themselves mentally by prioritizing friendships and doing things other than dancing and studying.
“It’s important you don’t do the same thing everyday,” she said.
And as the curtain falls, it’s the backstage moments and the bonds that are formed that step into the spotlight.
“The Nutcracker is a rite of passage for dancers. Everyone has a Nutcracker story,” Walker said. “We make sure we have a space where our kids can feel valued, appreciated, and seen.”
Those efforts are felt throughout the stage.
“This is a great memory to look back on,” Micah said. “I enjoyed my last years as a high schooler and connecting with friends, doing what I love.”
