Having a vision for something that has never been done takes more than imagination. It takes passion and a can’t stop attitude. Imagination is needed so that even though no one that looks like you is doing the desire profession you can still see you, not someone that looks like you, but the actual you, not just doing it, but killing it like no other person regardless of sex or ethnicity. A passion that burns so deep and fierce that eating, sleeping, and breathing it is the bare minimum of what you do to succeed. An attitude so unstoppable that you make even your haters and naysayers believe that you are more than capable of excelling in the profession. These are the qualities that ballet legends behold.

Before Misty Copeland and Lauren Anderson, there was Katherine Dunham, Janet Collins, Raven Wilkinson, Virginia Johnson, Pearl Primus, and Carmen deLavallade. These ladies who were always on pointe made historic first of their day that pave the way for the history makers of today. They are the ones who fueled the dreams of a little girl who dreamed and imaged that one day, maybe that could be me.

A young Charlene “Andie” James Piper and Krystle Simpson-Hamlet had stars in their eyes when viewing their first ballet. It was so whimsical and magical. They thought I want to do that. I want to be a ballerina. Like many little girls with the same goal, they did what kids do, they pretended they were one. Always walking on the tips of their toes, holding their arms in the shape of a ball, making costumes out of what they could find, they danced on the grandest of stages across to the country to larger than life audiences in their minds. Taking actually dance lessons to have that dream come to life would prove to be difficult.

“I always wanted to be a ballerina when I was younger. My mom couldn’t afford lessons,” said Simpson-Hamlet, who also has several others siblings that made finances tight. However, when Simpson-Hamlet’s mom learned of the Inner City Nutcracker when she was six-years-old that changed everything.

Piper, like Simpson-Hamlet, found out about the Inner City Nutcracker around the same time. Her mom had always had a passion for the arts and joined the board of the organization that would expose the arts to children who ordinarily wouldn’t have been.

With the steady decline of fine arts programs in school due to lack of funding, teachers in the area, and those who think it not important, many children would not know the beauty of dance. Programs like the Inner City Nutcracker fulfill that need. Established in 1986, ICN introduces kids to dance and gives them the amazing opportunity to take lessons and even perform in a major production with the pros on the main stage. ICN has branded the gift of dance with the magic of Christmas by giving kids the chance to perform a holiday classic, The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker is the famous tales of the toy nutcracker that comes to life after a little girl received it as Christmas gift. Once alive, the nutcracker engages in battle with the domineering Mouse King and his crew. The Nutcracker wants to stop the Mouse King in its track and help the poor.

The program had such an effect on the Piper and Simpson-Hamlet that to this day (and both are in their thirties) they are still involved on the advisory board. “I continue to serve on the advisory board because I believe in the mission. Our inner city schools don’t have the resources (nor the financial and personnel) to give students access to experiences like this.” Piper continued, “ And we can. We can change a child’s worldview, outlook, self confidence.”

After several auditions, sixty kids are chosen to go through eight weeks of rehearsals, learn the choreography of ballet legend Frederic Franklin, get fitted for intricacy costumes, and then perform on the stage of the Miller Outdoor Theatre all under the artistic direction of Mary Beth Arrington and Luis Fuente with the City Ballet of Houston.

According to the City of Houston Ballet, the project gives the company the opportunity to be connected to the community in the following ways:

1) individuals, adult, and children, are involved in the planning and performance; 2) the project is marketed to the entire Houston community, at no charge; 3) the docents are neighborhood oriented, taking place in parks and recreation sites; 4) CBH brings dancers directly to the underserved youth, by presenting in schools and at community parks; 5) selected children have the opportunity to continue training with CBH on full scholarship.

For the 2018 year, the ICN partnered with Bastian, Blackshear, Gregory Lincoln, and Crespo Elementary Schools to host the live auditions. Kids only needed to apply and audition without having had previous dance experience. Kids were selected based on the ability to learn steps, not the actual execution of it; whether they could perform before an audience, and their behavior at the audition.

Beyond the sixty kids performing, 1,700 other Houston ISD from Title I schools were given the dual opportunity to cheer on their classmates but also see them on stage giving them a fine arts experience as well. A second evening performance is free and open to the public.

This project is extremely important to the city of Houston for the many benefits children receive as a result of having this fine arts education. Board members and volunteers look forward to working with the kids annually. They work tirelessly to secure donations to put on the grand production that costs approximately $50,000, which averages to $800 per child.

A longtime sponsor has been the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Miller Outdoor Theatre also lends their support providing the venue since their constant goal is to provide cultural enrichment to reflect the diversity of Houston at no cost. ICN happily welcomed a new sponsor this year, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated – Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter. The oldest and largest graduate chapter in Houston, TX were thrilled to join this undertaking as one of their first major initiatives of the Exemplifying Excellence Through Sustainable Service platform for new International President Dr. Glenda Baskins Glover, who has encouraged members to focus on the fine arts. On the local chapter level, where Marsha Penn is the president and Eugenia Cain is the Fine Arts Committee Chairman, members assisted at all auditions, helped with the dress rehearsal, and volunteered backstage for the two live performances. The culminating activity of their support was a sizable monetary donation at the final show. ICN ties in perfectly with AKA’s mission to better the family as well since some of the program participants have received scholarships to continue their dance education to become academic and artistic dancers and ultimately role models for generations to follow.

If it moves your heart to give so freely to this worthy program that impacts our city in so many ways, contact the City of Houston Ballet info@cityballetofhouston.com and/or call 346-701-7275.