I’m not a huge fan of the summer, though so far the summer of 2025 has been pleasant for the most part. One thing I do look forward to are the outdoor concerts and performances. Tonight while walking Stella through Dilworth Park, I was excited to see about forty young ladies and ten young men warming up then marking through various parts of their adapted version of Romeo and Juliet. The Dance troupe is called the Chocolate Ballerina Company and their foundation is so wholesome and indicative of an America I don’t cringe to look at. It makes me proud that their founder, Chanel Holland, turned a dream into reality.
The Chocolate Ballerina Company scouts talent in every school of the arts in Philadelphia, as well as Baltimore, Washington DC and parts of New Jersey. Getting a spot is a big deal. It costs $600 per week per student to make this whole thing run. Now the Chocolate Ballerina Company is professionally stated, with well designed and fitted costumes, state of the art sound system and portable stage. Some of the musical selections they perform to have been commissioned especially for them.
There are several components of The Chocolate Ballerina Company beyond the traveling company I saw. They offer free dance class, outreach partnerships, pop-up performances, private lessons and open rehearsals for anyone between ages three and eighteen.
The best part? They’re so damn good. They have performance qualities far beyond their age. They have great spatial awareness, the technique of George Balanchine, audience awareness and the aesthetic qualities a professional employs. So impressive and in this dark-cloud era, thank god there are people like Chanel Holland and many others that don’t give a damn and will not stop cultivating a diverse community that kids are proud to be a part of.
Thanks Chocolate Ballerina Company. You make a contribution.
And on a personal note, you turned a rather mundane dog walk into an eye opening and inspirational experience.