Hi, my name is Esteban Santamaria, I’m a 28 year old dancer from Panama who has been living in NYC for the past 5 years.

Growing up, I didn’t have the opportunity to practice this art because there weren’t any resources in the small Caribbean town that I’m from to execute and train for this discipline. It wasn’t until I turned 18 years old that I got the opportunity to study, practice and build my dancing career, which has become a lifeline, a path, my main source of income and what keeps me moving everyday.

Throughout these 10 years of career I’ve had some many beautiful experiences and opportunities that I cherish like treasure. It has been a roller coaster of good and bad moments just like everything in life and right now I'm going through one of those bumpy moments.

I currently got an opportunity to join a company here in NYC but in order to do so I need to update my Visa status so I can keep dancing in USA. I’m currently against the clock, and in need of any financial support to cover the expenses of regulating my immigrant status. My heart reaches out to yours to ask for your collaboration to help me keep moving and dancing not only for myself but for my people, for I always say that everything I do and I learn is not only for myself but for the persons who got me to where I am, my friends, my family, teachers, mentors and my beautiful country.

I’m the result of a beautiful tragedy that happened 500 years ago, and I’m here today not only representing myself but those who preceded me. I carry with pride and honor my legacy, a legacy that I’d love to keep shining here. Your contribution will not only help me to regulate my status, but also will help me to make this beautiful country that has adopted me, the United States of America.