The face mapping and motion synthesis, yes. The dance choreography is pre-built — that is why the output is watchable. Tools like Christmas Dance pick the middle path: your photo, proven choreography, festive scene.
It is uploaded for rendering and used to generate your clip. Reputable generators state retention in their terms; check before uploading faces of anyone who cannot consent, particularly kids.
Because identity lives mostly in eyes, brows and mouth, and a moving face at five seconds hides small mismatches. If a render looks off, a straight-on photo with even light fixes more than any re-render — the photo dance upload guide covers the specs.
Solo for a single person, Duo for two people in separate photos, Pet for animals. The pet version is the one that gets shared outside the family chat.
Preview is free; keeping the export costs a small one-time fee on most generators. Nobody needs a subscription for a five-second clip.
Independent notes page. Not affiliated with christmas-dance.net.