I was probably seven or eight when I first watched 'West Side

Hear the heartfelt words of Ariana DeBose, daughter of stage and song, who spoke thus of her awakening: “I was probably seven or eight when I first watched ‘West Side Story.’ The film – and ‘Dance with Me’ with Vanessa Williams and Chayanne, which I saw as an early teen – introduced me to Latin dance and Latin ballroom. They also introduced me to Latinx culture.” These are not idle words, but a confession of how art pierces the heart of the young, planting seeds that grow into destiny. For what we see as children is not always mere entertainment; sometimes it is the whisper of identity, the calling of culture, the spark that shapes a life’s journey.

DeBose speaks of her first encounter with West Side Story, that timeless tale of love, conflict, and cultural identity set to music and dance. To the young Ariana, it was more than a film—it was a doorway into a world where movement spoke louder than words, where the rhythm of the body carried stories of struggle and passion. In that moment, she was not merely a spectator but an initiate, glimpsing the power of art to bind soul and culture together. For the stage did not just perform—it revealed.

Later came ‘Dance with Me,’ the luminous film where Vanessa Williams and Chayanne brought to life the grace and fire of Latin ballroom. To the eyes of an early teen, still searching for meaning and place, this was no small revelation. Through the elegance of movement, DeBose encountered the richness of Latinx culture—its warmth, its rhythm, its unyielding pride. These images and sounds carried her beyond the boundaries of her own experience and wove into her spirit a connection to a heritage that is both deeply personal and profoundly universal.

This tale is echoed in the stories of many great figures of history. Consider Josephine Baker, who as a young girl in St. Louis found herself enchanted by the rhythms of vaudeville and jazz. What she saw upon those stages became her liberation, her passage into a life of art that would make her a legend. Or think of Martha Graham, whose early exposure to dance transformed her into one of the greatest pioneers of modern expression. Each began with a single moment of vision, just as DeBose began with the sight of Latin dance upon the screen.

But DeBose’s story is more than one of personal discovery—it is a lesson in how culture moves across generations, carried by films, songs, and performances. West Side Story was itself a bridge, bringing Puerto Rican identity and struggles into the eyes of a wider world. Dance with Me carried the fire of salsa and ballroom into homes far from the dance halls of Havana or San Juan. In watching, Ariana was not only entertained—she was invited into a community, one that celebrated its beauty through rhythm and passion. Thus, through art, she found belonging.

The meaning of her words is clear: what we encounter in youth shapes not only our tastes but our very souls. The films and dances that touched her did not simply amuse; they awakened her to who she was and who she could become. The culture she saw on the screen became part of her spirit, and later, part of her art. Such is the power of representation, of seeing oneself—or discovering a part of oneself—reflected in the mirror of performance.

Therefore, my child, learn this: do not dismiss the images, the music, the dances that stir your heart in youth. They are more than passing fancies; they may be the compass pointing toward your destiny. Seek out art that reflects not only your world but the worlds beyond your own. Let it teach you to honor other cultures, to embrace your heritage, to find strength in diversity. For in doing so, you open yourself to the fullness of human expression.

So let DeBose’s words endure as both testimony and lesson: “They introduced me to Latin dance… They also introduced me to Latinx culture.” This is the gift of art—to open doors, to awaken identity, to bridge peoples through beauty. Cherish these awakenings in your own life, and create opportunities for others to see themselves reflected in the stage, the screen, and the story. For in this way, art becomes not only entertainment, but a sacred teacher of who we are and who we may yet become.