‘So amazing’: First Afro-Latina teen cast to play the lead in The Nutcracker

CHARLOTTE — A 14-year-old girl is making history as the first Afro-Latina to play the lead role in The Nutcracker with the Charlotte Ballet.

Channel 9′s Almiya White spoke with her about why this performance means so much.

Ballet is like poetry in motion, without words but a message that Elyn Jaime Jenkins is still able to convey.

“To be able to do that as a girl of color is just like, so amazing,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins is one of three young girls who will be playing Clara in The Nutcracker this season. However, is the first Afro-Latina to play the part.

“I have two sides that I’m able to represent, and so that just makes me really proud,” Jenkins expressed.

Jenkins said every leap on stage is a bold declaration to little girls who mirror her.

“I’m able to, I don’t know, like, plant a seed in some little girl’s heart to be like, ‘Huh? I saw that little girl that looked a lot like me. Maybe I should try ballet as well,’” Jenkins elaborated.

Jenkins said her ballet journey began at 5 years old and her passion for The Nutcracker started in the audience but quickly turned into motivation by the end of the show.

“I remember watching ballet dancers that looked like me and thinking, ‘Man, that gives me a good idea of what I could do if I just put my head down, just keep working,’” Jenkins said.

Now, through her movements on stage, Jenkins hopes little girls will be able to live out one day.

“You just kind of want to, like, reassure them with your words. And then they’ll have the courage to say, ‘Yeah, it’s really cool seeing you like you look like me on stage, and so I see myself up there,’” said Jenkins.

And while Jenkins’ last show is this Saturday, she said she has even bigger aspirations that she hopes will take her beyond the Queen City.

“I really am inspired to, like, be able to dance in New York,” Jenkins expressed.

And no matter where the poised sport takes her, Jenkins said she will continue to lift others as she climbs.

“Be a light to others and just to inspire other little girls. And just be a good reminder that, like if you put your mind to something, you can pull through and you can do it,” Jenkins said.

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