Hi, my name is Enishia! A lot of you may know me by my author name, Nia Davenport! My daughter is an amazing teen who has has a passion for classical ballet since she first started dance lessons at 3 years old! She's worked so hard for over a decade at this passion. Just like writing books is IT for me, and something I literally live, breathe, sleep, and have shed many many tears on my journey to publication, I've seen dance be that exact creative passion and lifelong dream of a professional career for Carmen!

Misty Copeland is her idol! Similar to her idol, Carmen has persevered through so many naysayers in the dance world and very antiquated ideas about Black girls and women within dance biases against thicker body types.

Carmen has worked so hard all of her elementary, middle school, and now high school years toward the lifelong dream of always growing in her craft and going after her dance goals. One of the major goals she sat for herself this year was to conquer the fear and anxiety of auditioning for summer dance intensive training programs and conquering thoughts about not being good enough to achieve her goals.

Dance Theatre of Harlem is a dance company that Carmen idols so much, she auditioned for the company's summer intensive program, and she got accepted! My baby girl is headed to NYC this summer!!!! The acceptance came literally a few hours after she walked out of the audition nearly in tears because she swore everyone was so much better.

On a daily basis, we work to interrogate and tear down the negative thoughts that being a BIPOC creative in many of the performing and creative arts sectors can really induce if the outside noise isn't shut out.

I am SO, SO happy for her to be receiving the opportunity to go to NYC and study within the dance training division of such a renowned dance company of global acclaim whose very mission is to "present a ballet company of African American and other racially diverse artists who perform the most demanding repertory at the highest level of quality."

Please help Carmen get to NYC this summer!!!!!! The breakdown of her costs are below:

Tuition: $2300

Program Housing (including meals): $3000

Go Fund Me Fees: $200

Update: No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to the GoFundMe.