Watch Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker

Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker is a 2020 documentary film that follows the path and preparation that renowned dancer and choreographer, Debbie Allen takes to put on her annual holiday production, Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. Debbie Allen is a legendary dance teacher, choreographer, and actress known for her work on popular shows such as Fame and Grey's Anatomy. The documentary takes us behind the scenes to show that staging a grand production is never easy, especially when one is trying to outdo all their previous work. Debbie's show is an annual tradition of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, which is one of the best art academies in Los Angeles.

We see the behind-the-scenes story of the dedication and commitment that the young talented dancers put into the dance academy as they train for the performance of the year. We get to see how Debbie creates an atmosphere of discipline, hard work, and inspiration that helps these young dancers realize their dreams. Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker does an excellent job of introducing some of the students and teachers, who come from different backgrounds, and highlighting their careers and accomplishments.

The film director, Oliver Bokelberg, uses an engaging approach to storytelling that lets the audience enjoy the rehearsals, choreography, and the stunning performative pieces which include a delightful blend of tap, jazz, ballet, and traditional African dance moves from the Nutcracker. The show is a tableau of exciting costumes, eye-catching backdrops, and mind-boggling stage tricks. The film lets us have a behind-the-curtain look at all these thrilling aspects of the production.

In the documentary, we also meet a few notable cast members, who are a mixture of professional actors and students from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. We see that the cast rehearses almost endlessly to present a top-class performance to the audience. Debbie puts in tremendous work into scripting, choreographing, and dressing the crew to produce an end result that would rival any Broadway production.

At the same time, the documentary gives a comprehensive look into Debbie's impressive career, both onstage and behind the scenes. We get to see how Debbie's childhood dance career influenced and determined her later life as a dancer, producer, and director. We're not just shown a record of her performances, but we get to see her fierce drive, creativity, and dedication to the art of dance. She appears to be a mentor and mothers the often uncertain younger generation of dancers, giving them a nudge of confidence and courage with her intuitive gestures and wise words.

There are also several interviews with influential artists in the realm of art and dance, such as Shonda Rhimes, Nigel Lythgoe, Phylicia Rashad, and Common, who lend insight and praise to Debbie’s boundless energy and creativity. It’s quite remarkable when Common tells Debbie that she has done so much for black culture through dancing and says that she inspires him. Debbie's talent and genius is showcased and appreciated by industry experts, and we get to see how her astounding career influenced pop culture.

Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker celebrates the music that provided the foundation of Debbie's career as a dancer and choreographer. The culture of music is displayed in the film in various ways. For example, Debbie's husband, Norm Nixon, talks about how the sound of jazz-inspired his wife's love for dance. Additionally, we see glimpses of the performance that gave Debbie the resources needed to reach the same magnitude as today's successful stage productions.

In conclusion, Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker is an extraordinary documentary film that honors Debbie Allen's tremendous accomplishments and provides insight into her creative process. The film is a testament to the passion, dedication, and hard work that goes into producing a top-tier performance. Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker’s captivating storytelling, beautiful dance sequences, and touching anecdotes from the cast and crew, work together to create a labor of love that is beautiful to watch. Whether you are a fan of dance, music or theater, you'll definitely love this documentary film.

Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.