LAPLACE — Dawn Warren says her daughter wasn’t always a dancer.

It was only four years ago that DoMonique Warren discovered the world of dance, enrolling at Aimee’s Dance Academy.

She blossomed quickly, earning a spot on the competition dance team and becoming one of the best.

Now the 13-year-old is going even more places.

After convincing mom, Dawn, and dad, Aaron, DoMonique applied and auditioned for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA).

In February, she got the letter telling her she had been accepted into a part-time, afterschool program.

It was a dream come true for the young lady who just completed the seventh grade at Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School.

“When she got that letter telling her she had been accepted, you’d have thought she had been accepted into college,” Dawn said. “She was all excited.”

DoMonique said it was a daunting process, which included an essay explaining why she should be accepted to the prestigious program.

“I said I like to dance and I like to express my emotions through my moves,” DoMonique said.

She also had to audition by learning and performing a dance taught to her and a group of about 20 other girls.

At 13, DoMonique is too young to become a full time student at the New Orleans school.

Dawn said she fully expects her to apply for her ninth grade year, though.

“I’m sure she will,” Dawn said. “I’m very proud of her.”

Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School principal Jason Beber is proud as well.

“It’s an honor to have one of your kids selected for that program,” Beber said. “We all know she got that foundation at Lake Pontchartrain Elementary. She’s very hard working and dedicated. When I need someone to perform a dance, I know I can count on her.”

DoMonique also is an honor roll student with a penchant for history. If she discovers a subject she doesn’t know much about, she’s quick to read and research to learn more.

During the just completed school year, she had a tough time selecting a subject for her social studies project until a teacher offered a list of possible topics.

DoMonique decided on Dear John Letters.

“It sounded very interesting, so I wanted to do that one,” she said. “A Dear John letter is when the soldiers were stationed overseas and their wives or girlfriends would write them a letter telling them that the relationship was over.”

While DoMonique said she likes studying the past, her favorite form of dance is the more modern style of contemporary.

“They teach you the dance, but you get to improvise sometimes,” she said.