Send Carissa to YAGP NY 2017!

"All of our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."  Walt Disney

It is astonishing to see what Carissa, newly 13 years old, has accomplished in the short 4 years that she's been dancing.  Her first YAGP, January 2016, was danced en pointe after only 6 months of pointe instruction.  The past year has seen her first pas de deux with a male professional, and acceptance into several prestigious summer intensives with accompanying scholarship offers.  At this year's YAGP 2017 Semi-Final in Dallas, TX, Carissa was awarded Top 12 Classical in the Junior age category (12-14 year olds), and an invitation to compete in the YAGP 2017 Finals in New York!  Her ultimate goal is to become a professional dancer, and it is exciting to see the drive and focus with which she is pursuing her dream!

From YAGP's website:
"Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest global network of dance. It fulfills its mission of dance education through scholarship auditions, master classes, alumni services, educational and outreach activities, performances, and films.

YAGP reaches over 7,000 dance students annually by holding workshops, scholarship auditions, master classes and audition classes in approximately 17 U.S cities and 6 international locations. Each season culminates in the week-long New York Finals, where more than 1,200 of the world’s most promising dancers receive in-depth mentoring and greater scholarship, professional, and performance opportunities."

We are blessed, and honored, that Carissa has been chosen to compete in this year's Finals, April 7-14, 2017.  As the 6th child of 7, ages 7-27, and with siblings in college, high school, and other activities, the expense of sending her to New York is outside of her parents' budget.  This is where you can help Carissa reach for the stars and realize her dreams!  Any funds raised will go directly to the expense related to attending Finals-airfare, hotel, ground transportation (uber, taxi, train), meals, entry fees, and pointe shoes.  Any amount helps! 

"I'm not telling you it's going to be easy--I'm telling you it's going to be worth it."  Art Williams