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Every year, 160 of the country's most gifted 17-year-olds share a week of dreams at the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) in Miami. There, celebrated artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Vanessa Williams, Jacques d'Amboise and Michael Tilson Thomas serve as mentors during an unforgettable week of training, performance and friendship. The Oscar®-nominated documentary short REHEARSING A DREAM goes behind the scenes with these passionate young artists.

The NFAA was established 26 years ago to ensure the future of American art by assisting young talent in nine disciplines both financially and educationally through the annual youngARTS Week. To date, it has provided over $84 million to more than 10,000 especially gifted teens throughout the United States.

Featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of students at work and at play, REHEARSING A DREAM captures the artistic passion of a new generation of ambitious, idealistic performers and visual artists as they participate in the demanding youngARTS Week. They work alone and together under the guidance and inspiration of major celebrity talents, including ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov, actress and singer (and former Miss America) Vanessa Williams, dancer and choreographer Jacques d'Amboise and conductor-composer Michael Tilson Thomas.

Often feeling like outsiders in their hometowns and high schools, these eager teenagers experience the joy of transforming into confident, outgoing artists during this week-long program.

As 1981 NFAA winner Vanessa Williams explains, being chosen for ARTS Week is "an affirmation that you were right. Whether it was singing or dancing or acting, you knew that you were good enough to get there, and people recognized it."

The students perform and exhibit their work, compete for awards, and begin to feel for the first time a connection with kindred spirits all over the country. And they leave full of confidence, joy and a commitment to pursue their dreams.

At the farewell party, featured performer Shalita, who won a scholarship to Julliard following the program, says through tears, "ARTS Week put the cement on my dirt path. This was the best week of my life - it was everything they said it was, and so much more."