Nia Asks "What Is Real Dancing?"
A children's book project created by Founder of Danse4Nia (Antoinette Coward-Gilmore) and Board Member (Cathy Finley-Hensford). Open for sponsorship.
Pre-Launch book sale open
December 1 - July 30
We want every young black and brown dancer to feel and be seen through our children's book about dance!
Images from our illustration team! You can pre-order this beautiful and inspiring book now through July 30, 2023.
Join us in welcoming this children's book into the world!
Pre-order your book and more!
$11 or more -
Horton’s Hope
Electronic PDF of the Book
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$27 or more -
Katherine’s Kollection
Electronic PDF of the Book!
Hardcover Copy of the Book!
Sticker Pack
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$55 or more -
Snow’s Selection
Electronic PDF of the Book!
Hardcover Copy of the Book!
Sticker Pack
Digital Poster Set
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$83 or more -
Fagan’s Fantasy
Electronic PDF of the Book!
2 Hardcover Copies of the Book!
Sticker Pack
Digital Poster Set
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$127 or more -
Carmen’s Creation
Electronic PDF of the Book!
3 Hardcover Copies of the Book!
Sticker Pack
Digital Poster Set
1 free dance class for a child or adult (digital or in-person)
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$255 or more -
Alvin’s Ambition
Electronic PDF of the Book!
5 Hardcover Copies of the book - SIGNED!
Sticker Pack
Digital Poster Set
1 free dance class for a child or adult (digital or in-person)
2 tickets to a Danse4Nia Concert
Sponsor 3 dance classes for a young child at Danse4Nia
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
About the project
At Danse4Nia, we are proud to bring this inspiring and beautiful children’s book to all of our young dancers in our dance conservatory. We believe all dancers should be SEEN and HEARD and FELT in the dance world! Join us to welcome this fictional character – young Nia – into the world of dance through her big question in our first children’s book: “What is Real Dancing?”
This 32 page children’s book, “Nia Asks… “What is Real Dancing?”’, is written for young children of color who need to see themselves represented in the dance industry. This book follows Nia’s curiosity of different styles of dancing that she has seen. From Ballroom Dancing, to Tap Dancing, to Traditional African Dancing, Nia decides that ALL dancing is “real dancing”.
The full future book series, “Nia Asks”, will grow with Nia as she navigates the dance world, explores new styles of dance, and connects with her personal heritage of dance. A future series “Nia Speaks” will grow with Nia as she becomes an older teenager in the dance world – exploring her voice as a dancer and as a young professional.
Nia is a feminine name in the African-American culture. It also means “purpose” in the Swahili language. When a little girl recognizes the meaning of her name and, therefore, the purpose of her life, she embarks on a pathway of discovery and fulfillment. Combine this with her natural curiosity and love for movement and you have a journey of dance and destiny.
Meet Nia! You can see her curious brain at work in this illustration.
project timeline
********* To Note! December-July is when you can pre-order the book! We are still working with the illustrator and other team members to finish the project and have it in your hands by August 2023. We will be working hard to get your products to you by August 2023! Know that we will notify you with updates all through January – August, 2023! Thank you for reading and understanding. We can’t wait to share this work with you. It has been 6+ years in the making!!! *********
Meet the Team
The Writer - Cathy Finley-Hensford
Cathy Finley-Hensford is an artist in the true sense of the word. She is a thoughtful poet, writer, and dancer and has spent her career educating children in subjects such as math and writing. She is pleased to bring this project to Philadelphia and beyond, as “Nia Asks” is true to her heart and true to her mission as a Board Member of Danse4Nia.
Danse4Nia Partner - Antoinette Coward-Gilmore
Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore is the Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Danse4Nia, Philadelphia’s premiere arts organization that is the home to professional project-based dance company Phoenix Danse and youth dance company Nia-Next and arts education/ performing arts training program Danse4Nia Conservatory.
Designer and Art Director - Deborah Tyson
Deborah Tyson is an illustrator and artist living in Delaware County. She has illustrated several children’s books and joins us on this project as designer and art director. You can see samples of her work at deborahtysonart.com and @deborahstyson on Instagram.
Illustrator - Kelly Wong
Kelly Wong is a commission artist based in the UK, England, specializing in family and pet portrait drawings and paintings in a realistic style. Having always had a passion for art and a keen eye for detail, Kelly focuses and implements these skills to create works of art that people will love and cherish for a lifetime whilst also doing what she loves most – ART!Her website is www.kellywongsfineart.com and Instagram @kellywongsfineart.
Pre-order your book and more!
$11 or more - Horton’s Hope
Electronic PDF of the Book
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$27 or more - Katherine’s Kollection
Electronic PDF of the Book!
Hardcover Copy of the Book!
Sticker Pack
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$55 or more - Snow’s Selection
Electronic PDF of the Book!
Hardcover Copy of the Book!
Sticker Pack
Digital Poster Set
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$83 or more - Fagan’s Fantasy
Electronic PDF of the Book!
2 Hardcover Copies of the Book!
Sticker Pack
Digital Poster Set
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$127 or more - Carmen’s Creation
Electronic PDF of the Book!
3 Hardcover Copies of the Book!
Sticker Pack
Digital Poster Set
1 free dance class for a child or adult (digital or in-person)
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$255 or more - Alvin’s Ambition
Electronic PDF of the Book!
5 Hardcover Copies of the book - SIGNED!
Sticker Pack
Digital Poster Set
1 free dance class for a child or adult (digital or in-person)
2 tickets to a Danse4Nia Concert
Sponsor 3 dance classes for a young child at Danse4Nia
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
We are grateful to the dancers who paved the way for organizations like danse4nia and projects like "Nia Asks"
Want to sponsor in a bigger way? We still have a bit more time to collaborate inside the book!
$1550 Sponsorship Tier
Have your logo spotlighted on our Pre-Launch Campaign (launching December 2022) and share campaign launch information on your social media during 45 day campaign run.
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$2500 Sponsorship Tier
FOR THE FIRST PRINT OF THE BOOK (250-750 BOOKS) HAVE YOUR LOGO SPOTLIGHTED ON A POSTER OR PHYSICAL ELEMENT IN THE BOOK. (EXAMPLE ABOVE ON THE MUG IN THE KITCHEN SCENE.)
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$5500 Sponsorship Tier
ON ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE BOOKS, HAVE YOUR LOGO SPOTLIGHTED ON A CHARACTER'S T-SHIRT.
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
$8500 Sponsorship Tier
ON ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE BOOKS, HAVE YOUR LOGO SPOTLIGHTED AS AN ILLUSTRATED MURAL ON ONE OF THE WALLS IN THE BOOKS
Your total includes PayPal processing fees.
Each organization or company of the 20 participating companies will have: your logo featured on our Pre-Launch Campaign (running for 45 days)!
** Your donations are tax-deductabile. Processing fees may be added through PayPal while donating.
Note: We reserve the right to deny any participants that don’t align with Danse4Nia’s mission.
Get a sneak peak of the
preliminary artwork
