Today we’d like to introduce you to Enneressa Davis.
Enneressa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started Praize Productions, Inc. (PPI) when I was 25 years old; we are now coming up on our 8th year in existence. I wanted to create an organization that made the arts both accessible and affordable for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. I felt like there is so much talent and purpose in our communities, but we are not always allotted the proper resources and access to professional programming, especially for our youth.
PPI is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization based out of the southside of Chicago. We currently serve throughout Chicago and its neighboring suburbs. We provide arts education and arts enrichment programming for both youth and adults. Praize Productions has 3 platforms. Our first platform is our Performing Arts Academy, where we teach various arts-based classes (dance, tumbling, acting, music, etc) to youth and adults. Our second platform is our dance companies, RIZE Youth (for youth ages 6-17), RIZE II (pre-professional company), and RIZE Pro-Elite (professional company). Our RIZE companies perform throughout the city and nationally. Both RIZE and students from our Academy perform in our annual, award-winning theatrical productions that have been housed at the Harris Theater, DuSable Theater, Logan Center, Beverly Arts Center, etc. Our last platform is Outreach, where PPI partners with schools, churches, and community organizations to provide high-quality arts programming.
I knew growing up that I always wanted to do something in the arts and had a gift in teaching. I have a bachelors in secondary education and a masters in education administration. I was a school teacher for five years, prior to leaving the classroom to pursue my passion, my purpose full-time. This leap of faith came with both ups and downs, but I am so happy that I trusted God and had faith. I have been dancing since I was a young girl and have been blessed to have powerful mentors that have helped me to achieve my various successes. Angela Grayson gave me my first opportunity to work in the not-for-profit arena; Kim Tyler trained me in theater and production; and Joel Hall gave me my first professional contract, as a dancer and taught me both the art and technique of dance. My countless teachers, parents, and family have poured a wealth of knowledge in me that has kept me grounded and persistent in achieving my goals. It’s that knowledge that I try to give to my students so that they can pour into the next generation. I believe that’s what it is all about… using your God-given gifts, talents, and abilities to be blessings to others.
I have been on unemployment, uninsured, living at home with my mom to winning countless awards, honors, grants, and sponsorships. From being the most popular to having people turn their backs on me. However, it is all a part of my story. A story that I am proud of, a story that I am blessed to call my life. Starting and running my own business has been one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life. But I must say, I am blessed to wake up every day and both pursue and live out my purpose. Everyone is not blessed enough to know and understand their purpose, but when you discover its richness in your life, it is then your responsibility to fulfill it and activate it daily. Each season of your life it expands and transcends (or at least it should, if you are constantly growing, which is the goal)… and as it expands, you expound personally. At 32, I am understanding how everything is connected, no wasted experiences, when you are living on purpose.
Has it been a smooth road?
Of course not! Without obstacles and challenges, I would not be the woman I am today nor would my organization be where it is. In 2014, I had a complete rebuild for PPI. I lost almost all my students and staff; had to change locations; and had to redefine both myself and my company, and I wasn’t even 30, yet! But I pressed. Failure was never an option; I never allowed it in my vocabulary. I knew failure only comes when one gives up, and God did not design me to be a quitter. So, I stayed persistent, reinvented myself, swerved all distractions and the very next year I produced, directed, and choreographed one of PPI’s biggest productions, our 4th production, Generation BLACK: An American Renaissance at a nearly sold-out show at the Harris Theater downtown. It won two awards and was my first show at a union theater, which was an obstacle within itself. But I did it, God did it, and it wouldn’t have been possible if I had died, during my “process.”
In 2016, I had to do a complete re-brand for my organization. This was difficult because once again, I was “redefining” my vision. It was this second time around, that I began to understand that vision constantly evolves as the visionary evolves. As I grew, it grew… this time, it didn’t hurt as much as it did in 2014, I was able to use my past experiences to “faith” my way, as I did the needed work.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As mentioned before, Praize Productions is a not-for-profit organization with 3 platforms: PPI’s Performing Arts Academy, RIZE Dance Companies, and Outreach. We specialize in the arts, which we infuse education and social programming/mentorship, which sets us apart from other arts organizations.
Instead of annual recitals, we produce full, theatrical productions, which gives both our dancers and students a professional platform to showcase their talent. We have produced 7 productions: Visions, Flesh, award-winning Back 2 Black, award-winning Generation BLACK: An American Renaissance, award-winning The Issues of Women, Future: A Youth Inspired Production, and most recently Revival: The Answer. Our productions have positive messaging that leaves the audiences inspired. We infuse dance, visual art, a live band, spoken word, and music to offer a one of a kind experience for our audiences each year.
Although we are a growing organization that serves over 500 youth and adults annually, PPI still possesses a grass-roots and family feel that creates an atmosphere that cultivates and promotes growth.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I love the city of Chicago. I think many people think of LA, New York or now Atlanta when it comes to dance and the arts; however, Chicago has its own unique culture that can foster companies like PPI. We have so many African-American dance legends like Joel Hall, Homer Bryant, Joseph Holmes. Beautiful companies of color like Deeply Rooted, Muntu, and Joel Hall Dancers and newer companies like Red Clay, Black Girls Dance, and South Chicago Dance Theater; dance studios ran by African-Americans like: Mayfair, Studio One, Premier One, and countless others.
Of course, I would recommend Chicago to others, and I would suggest whatever we don’t have here…CREATE IT! That’s the beauty of being an artist; we have the ability to create. It’s not a magical thing; it’s a spiritual thing.
Pricing:
- Performing Arts Summer Camp 2018 $300 (discounts for multiples)
- Summer Teen & Adult Dance Intensive 2018 $100 (drop-in rates available)
Contact Info:
- Address: 7000 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60637
- Website: praizeproductions.com
- Phone: 312.775.2046
- Email: praizeproductions@gmail.com
- Instagram: @praizeproductions
- Facebook: @praizeproductions
Image Credit:
Black & White Photos: Tony Smith, Colored Photos: Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
