From the late 90s to the early 2000s, Disney Channel released a string of Original Movies that, today, are considered Millennial and Zillennial classics. Many of those DCOMs were sports dramas that followed the adventures and challenges of young people competing in a wide range of sports, from inline skating and bowling to snowboarding and motocross. While the depiction of sports culture varied, early 2000s youth programming left much to be desired in ethnic diversity and on-screen representation—which is exactly why 2002’s Gotta Kick It Up! became a seminal film for Disney fans of color and the young Latina community.

Gotta Kick It Up! was the eighth sports drama in the DCOM canon, based on the real-life experiences of Meghan Cole, a teacher who, via the nonprofit Teach for America, was placed at Nimitz Middle School in Huntington Park, California. 

In the DCOM, Cole inspired the character Heather Bartlett, and Nimitz became the fictional, under-resourced, predominantly Latino, Marshall Middle School. The film follows Marshall’s competitive dance team, newly coached by Bartlett, a Juilliard dropout (played by Susan Egan), and ultimately led by ninth-graders Daisy Salinas (Camille Guaty), Esmerelda Reyna (Sabrina Wiener), and Yolanda “Yoli” Vargas (America Ferrera).

When it premiered in the summer of 2002, the Los Angeles Times called Gotta Kick It Up! “a Hip-Hop Hispanic makeover” of Kirsten Dunst’s Bring It On, one they believed would “attract the growing legions of young urban Latino viewers.” And it did. Though in later years the film drew valid criticism for its use of the white savior trope, which was unfortunately common in the early 2000s, its portrayal of young Latinidad was nonetheless a breath of fresh air. Until Gotta Kick It Up!, Disney Channel had released only one Original Movie featuring a Latina protagonist: the 2000s horse-racing drama Ready to Run.

Gotta Kick It Up! delved deeper into its main characters' culture, incorporating Spanglish dialogue, Spanish music, and time spent in the characters’ interior lives. For instance, a major part of Esmerelda’s character arc is learning to advocate for herself as she balances her at-home responsibilities as a caretaker for her younger sibling with her scholastic and extracurricular duties.

This realism made the film resonate deeply with girls of all ethnic backgrounds while still capturing the vivid, joyful spirit of Latina girlhood: resourcefulness, resolve, and resilience. 

Despite feeling unwelcome at predominantly white competitions leading up to the regional championships, Yoli, Esmerelda, Daisy, and the rest of their dance team refused to let anyone or anything stand in the way of their success, whether it be their white coach who didn’t initially believe in them or a lack of school funding to attend the regional championships.

They used their creativity and traditionally “feminine” skill sets to upcycle their competition uniforms. They leaned on their community by throwing a block party fundraiser to pay their way to regionals. And when they begin to doubt their own capabilities, teammate Marisol jumps in with iconic words of wisdom: “Come on! It’s like my grandmother always says: ¡Sí Se Puede!” Her matriarch’s words inspire the team chant, the most memorable line of the movie, which translates to “Yes, I can.” 

In the film’s final act, the dance team proves they were born to compete — and win — because of where they come from and who they are, not in spite of it. Their routine for the regional championships honors their heritage by fusing traditional and popular Latin dance moves, like salsa, the cha-cha, and the merengue, with Hip-Hop and ballet.

Gotta Kick It Up! is widely considered one of the best DCOMs of Disney Channel’s golden era for its warm authenticity and accurate portrayals of young women determined to become the best versions of themselves. Close out Hispanic Heritage Month by rewatching Gotta Kick It Up! and let the Marshall Middle School dance team serve as a reminder for your own journey: ¡Sí Se Puede!

 

MEET KAITLYN MCNAB

Kaitlyn McNab is a contributing writer for TOGETHXR.com and an award-winning culture reporter and editor. Her creative mission is to celebrate and articulate diverse experiences across all narrative mediums.

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