{"id":43,"date":"2025-01-16T23:20:39","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T23:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-2025-volume-6-issue-1\/dancing-for-a-cause-artists-for-hope-marks-10-years-of-giving-back\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:10:55","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T19:10:55","slug":"dancing-for-a-cause-artists-for-hope-marks-10-years-of-giving-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-2025-volume-6-issue-1\/dancing-for-a-cause-artists-for-hope-marks-10-years-of-giving-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Dancing for a cause: Artists for Hope marks 10 years of giving back\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The San Jacinto College South Campus Dance Program celebrated 10 years of its Artists for Hope charity concert in February.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we started this event a decade ago, we had no idea it would grow to be so successful and impactful,\u201d said Jamie Williams, San Jac dance professor and event founder. \u201cWe have always loved sharing this ever-growing event with the Houston community, but this milestone year was especially significant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams founded Artists for Hope after experiencing personal loss and wanting to give back to the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Artists<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started teaching at the College full time, my mother had just passed away,\u201d she said. \u201cShortly after that, I learned that a student and a colleague both had family members diagnosed with cancer. I saw myself in these women, which pulled at my heart.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Motivated to make a difference, Williams researched ways she could give back through her position at the College. That first year, she was overwhelmed by the dance community\u2019s support.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI contacted 10 or 12 dance companies hoping someone would want to work with us,\u201d she said. \u201cAll of them said yes. They were all ready and willing to donate their time and talents to our cause.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Master classes on pointe<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Artists

Artists for Hope<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Artists for Hope received a San Jacinto College Foundation<\/a><\/span> grant this year, allowing the event to bring in Roderick George, a Houston native and rising New York City dance artist. George and members of his company joined the event to teach master classes. Selected dancers also worked with George to create and perform a premiere work at the event.<\/span><\/p>\n

Artists for Hope featured two days of free master classes with professional dance instructors. In addition to San Jac dance students, these classes welcomed university students, Houston-based professionals, and dancers from local studios and high schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided to offer these classes because our students and local dancers can\u2019t always afford pricey workshops and concerts downtown,\u201d Williams said. \u201cBy keeping the classes free, we\u2019re giving back to our local dance community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Reel impact<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Artists

Artists for Hope<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cDuring the pandemic, many dancers turned to creating dance films,\u201d Williams said. \u201cLive performances weren\u2019t an option, so we had to pivot and hone new skills to keep creating and sharing work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This shift led to the creation of the Artists for Hope International Dance Film Festival. Through Film Freeway, Williams and fellow instructor Jennifer Salter launched the festival and hoped for the best.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had 150 film submissions from 13 different countries our first year,\u201d Williams said. \u201cWe never expected the festival to go international, but we\u2019re thrilled it did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the last five seasons, the festival featured 43 films from 15 countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Win-win-win<\/span><\/h3>\n

Over the years, Artists for Hope has donated profits to charities, supporting struggling local families, veterans, human trafficking victims, children with terminal illnesses, homeless people, and cancer research.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in a unique position,\u201d Williams explained. \u201cBecause the College owns the venue, we can donate 100% of the profits to charity. The master class instructors are paid through our budget and through grants, and the performers donate their time, so we don\u2019t need to take any of the profit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s charity, Pour into Houston, provides underserved Houstonians with accessible, affordable mental health care.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe ask past charities for recommendations each year, which is how we found Pour into Houston,\u201d Williams said. \u201cWe try to support organizations that focus on the Houston area and have a significant impact.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams sees the partnership between Artists for Hope and the Houston dance community as a win-win-win.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the perfect result,\u201d she said. \u201cThe audience gets to experience the San Jac dance program and some of Houston\u2019s finest dance artistry. Dance companies get to support a great cause, and we raise funds for charity. We couldn\u2019t have planned a better outcome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more at artistsforhopehouston.net<\/a><\/span>. Or learn more about San Jac\u2019s dance program<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Melissa Trevizo<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The San Jacinto College South Campus Dance Program celebrated 10 years of its Artists for Hope charity concert in February. \u201cWhen we started this event a decade ago, we had no idea it would grow to be so successful and impactful,\u201d said Jamie Williams, San Jac dance professor and event founder. \u201cWe have always loved… read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":85,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8,1],"tags":[],"article_type":[],"class_list":["post-43","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-news","category-dance-program","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nDancing for a cause: Artists for Hope marks 10 years of giving back\u00a0 - Spring 2025, Volume 6 \u2013 Issue 1<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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