CHANEL HOLLAND // FOUNDER + ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Chanel Holland-Pierre, is the Founder and CEO of Chocolate Ballerina Company. Chanel is a Temple BFA graduate and Tisch School MFA graduate. Chanel began her artistic career at the age of 3. Chanel has attended many elite performing arts institutions including Alvin Ailey School, Wissahickon dance academy, University of the Arts, Koresh, Philadanco, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dallas Black dance Theatre, The Rock School of Dance Education and many more.

Chanel is the Social Justice Award 2024 winner for Arts and Culture. Chanel has also won Choreographer of the Year 2008 winner, NAACP ACT-S0 Gold Medalist, and CBS Hometown Heartbeat Award Winner, alongside many certificates of community achievements.

Chanel has developed free ballet classes in the local Philadelphia Parks and Recreation centers, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia School District. Chanel serves as an innovator for success for black and brown ballerinas and underserved communities. As an educator who has partnered with several dance companies to provide arts education to ages 3-17, Chanel has expanded her legacy by clothing the homeless, raising awareness for change in blacks in ballet, premiering the first diverse ballet classical productions and standing with women in black excellence.

Chanel has been seen on CBS, Fox20, NBC10, PHL17, ABC6, Good Day Philadelphia, Good Morning America, CNN, and many more. Chanel Holland-Pierre, the living icon for the people.