SALT LAKE CITY — In a surprise announcement that has left the entertainment and education worlds buzzing, Emmy-winning performer Julianne Hough has unveiled a $150 million partnership to launch the country’s first tuition-free performing arts academy for foster youth and runaways.

The facility, called The Kinetic Academy of Dreams, will be built in Hough’s home state of Utah and aims to give hope, housing, and higher education opportunities to children who have aged out of foster care or fled unsafe environments.

The announcement — revealed live at a gala event in Los Angeles — immediately went viral. Within hours, #JulianneHough and #AcademyOfDreams were trending across social media platforms, with thousands calling her “the brightest light of 2025.”

“This isn’t about spotlight,” Julianne said, her voice breaking with emotion. “It’s about handing over the stage to children who’ve never had a safe place to land.”

A Bold Vision With Heart

The Kinetic Academy of Dreams represents far more than another celebrity charity. According to early project plans, the $150 million initiative — a public-private collaboration between Julianne Hough, several philanthropic foundations, and state education partners — will include:

• Full residential housing and dormitories for up to 300 students each year.

• World-class training programs in dance, theater, music, film, and technical arts.

• On-site counseling and mentorship, offering emotional and psychological support.

• College and career preparation to help students transition into higher education or creative careers.

Construction on the state-of-the-art campus is expected to begin this spring, with the first class of students anticipated in 2026.

“Every brick, every room, every mirror is being built with purpose,” Hough explained. “We’re not just teaching kids how to perform — we’re helping them rediscover who they are.”

Turning Pain Into Purpose

Hough, who grew up in Utah and found fame as a teenager through Dancing with the Stars, has spoken openly about her difficult early years — years marked by separation from her family and challenges of living abroad while training in London.

Those experiences, she says, gave her a deep empathy for children who feel lost or forgotten.

“When I was young, I remember feeling invisible,” Julianne said. “Even with opportunity, there were nights I felt completely alone. I can’t imagine what that’s like for a child with no safety net at all. That’s why this academy exists — to make sure they never feel that way again.”

The Kinetic Academy will partner with child welfare organizations across the United States to identify and recruit talented, motivated youth who have experienced instability or homelessness. Tuition, room, and board will be entirely free, covered by the academy’s endowment and continuing sponsorships.

A New Model for Arts Education

The academy’s educational model is being hailed as groundbreaking. It combines the discipline and rigor of performing arts conservatories with trauma-informed care and holistic wellness programs.

Students will study under professional choreographers, acting coaches, and creative mentors, many of whom have already volunteered to serve on the academy’s founding faculty.

Among those reportedly involved are Broadway director Kenny Ortega, film choreographer Mandy Moore, and mental health advocate Dr. Thema Bryant, who will advise on the school’s wellness curriculum.

Ortega, a longtime friend and collaborator of Hough’s, said,

“Julianne’s vision is revolutionary. She’s not just teaching dance steps — she’s teaching courage, resilience, and self-worth. This will change lives.”

The Nation Responds

News of the academy has sparked an emotional outpouring online. Thousands of fans have shared personal stories using the hashtag #KineticDreams, expressing gratitude and awe.

One fan posted,

“As a former foster kid, I can’t stop crying. Someone finally sees us. Thank you, Julianne.”

Celebrities also chimed in. Fellow Dancing with the Stars alumni Derek Hough called his sister “a force of nature and compassion,” while Oprah Winfrey shared the announcement with the caption: “When light serves purpose, it becomes legacy.”

Within 24 hours, donations to partnering charities supporting foster youth reportedly tripled, demonstrating the ripple effect of Hough’s announcement.

More Than an Academy — A Movement

In addition to the performing arts programs, the academy will include The Hough Wellness Center, featuring therapy rooms, yoga and mindfulness spaces, and what Hough calls “emotional rehearsal studios” — quiet areas designed for journaling, reflection, and healing through movement.

“So many kids in the foster system carry trauma that isn’t visible,” Hough said. “We’re giving them the tools to express it, process it, and transform it into art.”

She added that every graduate will leave with not only a portfolio and performance experience but also a support network and ongoing mentorship. “No one leaves our stage without someone cheering for them,” she said.

A Star Who Gives the Spotlight Away

Julianne Hough has long been celebrated for her talent and versatility — from her dazzling ballroom performances to her Broadway debut and her wellness brand KINRGY. But this project marks a new era for the performer, shifting her focus from the stage to service.

Entertainment journalist Clara Bennett wrote:

“Julianne has turned her light outward. She’s not chasing applause anymore — she’s creating it for others.”

Even in an industry known for fleeting fame, Hough’s decision to invest her success in something enduring sets her apart. The Kinetic Academy of Dreams, as many have already noted, could become a national model for inclusive arts education.

A Future Built on Hope

As the press event concluded, Julianne stood before a large architectural rendering of the academy. Behind her, a group of former foster youth — all of whom had been invited as honored guests — watched with tears in their eyes.

Then, she said softly,

“They’ve told these kids they’re broken. I want them to know they are masterpieces — still in progress, still shining.”

With that, she placed her hand over her heart as the crowd erupted in applause.

In that moment, it became clear that Julianne Hough’s greatest performance isn’t on a stage — it’s in the lives she’s about to change.

And for a generation of children who have never had a safe place to land, The Kinetic Academy of Dreams may finally be the standing ovation they’ve always deserved.