Helping Hearts Through the Arts (HHA) inspires lifelong movement and fosters a love of the arts through dance programs featuring innovative, uplifting choreography, live musical performances, and movement activities. HHA is committed to reaching a variety of audiences and changing perspectives on dance and aging. The more than 10 performances annually are geared toward reaching senior communities throughout the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. 

 

Founded in 2013, HHA has been involved in more than 75 music and dance performances at local arts centers, senior centers, adult-day care and elder-care facilities, and retirement communities to help foster a greater sense of community and spread goodwill through the value of the arts. These programs for seniors have taken place at over 25 different venues, including Brightviews, Fairfax County Senior Centers, Greenspring, Sunrises, Westminster @ Lake Ridge, the Virginian, Workhouse Arts Center, and Capital One Hall. In addition, for the past few years, HHA has taught Lincolnia Senior Center tappers dances which they have performed in some of HHA’s shows. 

 

Helping Hearts Dance, the dance component of HHA, has performed by invitation at dance festivals including the Publick Playhouse and Transformations. Helping Hearts Dance has also performed for charity fundraisers including the Network for Victim Recovery of DC, ALS DC, NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association), and NIMH Suicide Prevention. 

 

HHA has received ticket subsidy grants from Arts Fairfax for Season II & III at the Capital One Hall and also awarded a one-time Dolly Vogt Community Arts Award to support the Season Four performance at Capital One Hall, scheduled for June 12, 2025. In addition, the City of Alexandria, Va., awarded a Fiscal Year 2025 grant to support HHA’s community outreach "Helping Hearts Dance with Seniors"" project with the Alexandria Adult Day Services at Nannie J. Lee Center.  

 

The dancers, aged 40 to over 75, demonstrate that high-quality dance performance is possible at all ages. Performances include a variety of styles of dance including tap, musical theater, modern, ballet and contemporary dance. Programs can include creative dance and movement workshops, live music (piano, clarinet, guitar), poetry, and vocal performance. HHA has performed alongside renowned local groups including MinhVo Jazz Trio, Paul Carr’s Jazz Academy of Music, Beau Soir Ensemble, East of the River Steel Band, and singer/songwriterRebecca Berlin. 

 

HHA welcomes collaborative opportunities to help build community connections, create ways to give back, and inspire others to move, create and grow.