about

 Current  2024 HHA OUTREACH :


 Helping Hearts Dance -teaching tap to the seniors at Lincolnia Senior Center Monday's 12-1pm.



Helping Hearts Through The Arts

​​ Helping Hearts Through the Arts (HHA), is a 501(c)3 public charity.  The mission of HHA is to inspire lifelong movement and foster a love of the arts through programs featuring innovative, uplifting choreography and live musical performances; as well as providing movement activities for seniors in the Washington metropolitan area.  Founded in 2013,  HHA  has been involved in over 75 music and dance performances to local art centers, senior centers,  elder care, and retirement communities to help foster a greater sense of community, and spread goodwill through the value of the arts.  


Helping Hearts Dance is a group of passionate dancers aged 40-75+ who demonstrate that high quality dance performance doesn't end because of age or other barriers. The group is looking to broaden it's reach, change perceptions, and demonstrate the value of lifelong movement.  HHA desires to continually create ways to give back, and inspire others to move, create, and grow.  


Programs have included performances, dance workshops, art classes, and flower arranging  at numerous local senior and retirement centers.  HHA has also delivered hundreds of daffodils cut from the founders garden and sunflowers from the Sweet Virginia Foundation to retirement homes,  elder care, senior centers, and hospice providers.


Our September 2014 grand scale project kicked off  an  "Autumn Remembrance Day Arts Festival".  It's  a  day of  community celebration with local visual and vocal artists, dancers, and musicians.  It's  a day to reflect and remember ancestors and loved ones, and express gratitude for what our earth provides especially with the beauty of the fall season.  


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Board of Directors​:   Kathy Bova, Jon Kirn, Grace Lalonde, Peg Schaefer, Sue Skaddan


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HHA extends heartfelt thanks to the wonderful people who have generously donated their time, talent, and facilities so that we may share the joy of music and dance with the community.  

 

*     Choreographers:  Current Resident Choreographer- Adolfo Matto Traverso.  Previous contributions include Candy Braden, Shu-Chen Cuff,  Elizabeth DeSeguirant, Silvia Burstein-Hendi,  Harriet Moncure  Fellows, Jeremy McShan, Sue Skaddan, Ewa Burak, Kristina Edwards, Clarissa Warren.


*     Musicians:   Michael Davis (classical guitar), Carol (flute) & Sid Dunn (cello), Eleanor Lally (piano), Claudia Maloney (piano), Susan McQuade (clarinet & cello), Sarah Rhule (vocalist), Minh Vo Jazz Trio, Rebecca Berlin (singer/songwriter), Sally Freeman (vocalist).


*     Sound:   Susan Kaput, Chris Murphy- RHL Audio, Jason Mandel


*     Facilities:  Center for the Ballet Arts, Lincolnia Senior Center,  The Sweet Virginia Bee Farm


*     Dancers:   Kathy Bova, Rachel Goldberg, Grace Lalonde, Patricia Langan, Claudia Maloney, Susan McQuade,  Peg Schaefer, Sue Skaddan, Adolfo Matto Traverso (resident choreographer).   






       

HHA PERFORMANCES 2013-Present


October 2013:  "Sweet Zinnia"-Theater on the Run
January 2014:  The Virginian
September 2014:  1st Autumn Remembrance Day-Sweet Virginia Bee Farm
January 2015:  Heatherwood Retirement Community  
September 2015: 2nd Autumn Remembrance Day-Sweet Virginia Bee Farm
August 2015:  Heatherwood Retirement Community
December 2015:  Sunrise Braddock Glen
March 2016:  Aarondale Assisted Living
June 2016:  The Lincolnian Senior Residences
July 2016:  Lincolnia Senior and Day Care Center
September 2016:  3rd Autumn Remembrance Day-Sweet Virginia Bee Farm
November 2016:  Culpepper Gardens Senior Center
December 2016:  The Lincolnian Senior Residences 
March 2017: Heatherwood Retirement Community
June 2017: Greenspring Village Square Theater-Retirement Community
June 2017: Occoquan "Artist's Undertaking Gallery"
September 2017:  4th Autumn Remembrance Day-Sweet Virginia Bee Farm
November 2017:  Lincolnia Senior Center
March 2018: Heatherwood Retirement Community
May 2018: CREATIVE AGING FESTIVAL-Lincolnia Senior Center
June 2018: Greenspring Village Square Theater
September 2018: 5th Autumn Remembrance Day-Sweet Virginia Bee Farm
December 6, 2018: Sunrise Silas Burke House
December 20, 2018 Agudas Achim Synagogue
February 14, 2019: Lorton Workhouse Art Center
February 28, 2019: Lincolnia Senior Center
March 31, 2019: Sunrise George Mason with children musicians and dancers from TDC.

April 4, 2019:  Westminster At Lake Ridge
April 7th, 2019: Afghan New Year Celebration- Lincolnia Senior Center
May 30, 2019: CREATIVE AGING FESTIVAL-Lincolnia Senior Center
June 8, 2019:  Misler Adult Day Center -Rockville, MD
September 29, 2019: 6th Autumn Remembrance Day-Sweet Virginia Bee Farm
October 24, 2019:  Hollin Hall Senior Center
November 9, 2019:  Madison Community Center for GoBananas 10yr. gala celebration
December 5, 2019: Westminster @ Lake Ridge
January 14, 2020:  Agudas Achim Synagogue

February 13, 2020: Harmony at Chantilly

May 21, 2020:  CREATIVE AGING FESTIVAL canceled due to COVID-19 

October 4, 2020:  7th Autumn Remembrance Day- ALS "Hearts In Flight-kick off"

April 18, 2021:  "Open Rehearsal" at the Sweet Virginia Bee Farm for "Hearts in Flight- for ALS" 

May 23, 2021:  Premiere of "Fall en Angels" & "Hearts in Flight-for ALS" at the Sweet Virginia Bee Farm

June 28, 2021: Westminster @ Lake Ridge

July 15, 2021:  Harmony @ Spring Hill

October 3, 2021: 8th Autumn Remembrance Day @ the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

November 20, 2021: Transformations Showcase at Pozez Jewish Community Center

November 21, 2021:  Publick Arts audition

January 28, 2022:  Brightview Fair Oaks

February 13, 2022:  Dancing for Mental Health-Fairfax Academy

April 28, 2022.  Westminster @ Lake Ridge

May 1, 2022.  May 1st Day Celebration at the Sweet Virginia Barn

May 22, 2022.  Walker Chapel Community Celebration

June 5, 2022.  Walker Chapel, Arlington, VA

June 23, 2022 Tall Oaks Assisted Living, Reston, VA

October 9, 2022 9th Autumn Remembrance Day@ Sweet Virginia Bee Farm 

October 20,2022:  Fun Bunch Woodbridge, VA

October 27, 2022 Brightview Fair Oaks

November 19, 2022 Transformations Festival, Pozez CC

January 12, 2023 Brightview Great Falls

February 14, 2023 Virginia Hospital Center Happy Hearts Day

February 16, 2023 Fairfax Academy NEDA Benefit

February 17, 2023 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival @ Rockville Hilton

February 19, 2023 Uplift Inspirational Dance Festival

May 11, 2023 Capital One Hall Vault "Heart & Soul"

October 8, 2023: 10th Autumn Remembrance Day-10 Year Celebration @ Sweet Virginia Bee Farm

October 26, 2023:  Nannie J. Lee Center

November 9, 2023:  Network for Victim Recover DC Benefit (NVRDC) Marriott Marquis

November 16, 2023:  Brightview Great Falls

November 18, 2023:  Transformations Festival-Pozez JCC

December 7, 2023:  Brightview Fair Oaks

December 14, 2023: Westminster @ Lakeridge

January 18, 2024: Fun Bunch Woodbridge

January 25, 2024: Nannie J. Lee Center

February 14,2024:  Valentines Day Social for Virginia Health Care

February 15, 2024:  Hollin Hall

March 7, 2024 Capital One Hall @ Vault