I didn’t ask if you were a da Vinci, Dali, or Degas. I’m not, but I still love to draw.
Artist or doodler, I want to encourage you to channel a dash of that ‘Eddie’ Degas style, and do some good. Enter your dance drawing for The ICON of Hope Project, a nationwide drawing contest.
The ICON of Hope Project
A fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The ICON of Hope Project is an initiative of ICON Dance Complex, a New Jersey dance studio owned and operated by siblings GEO and Beth Hubela, and their ICON of The Year, Katie Fasbach. (More on Katie, in just a moment)
Want to involve your students? Click here to download the drawing contest flyer
First, your masterpiece:
Create a dance portrait of any kind, genre, or setting on 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper with the title ICON of HOPE. No other words please, as this message is important.
Good news for me; stick figures are acceptable! So are markers, glitter, and crayon.
Make sure your name, age, email and phone number are on the back.
More good news; submit as often as you like. Please send a $5 donation with each drawing. Your donation, says Beth Hubela, “will go directly towards our annual St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital holiday check.” She adds, “We invite you to help make a collaborative and positive impact by sending us your best dance scene.”
Really important: You have until December 2nd to get your drawings in. So hurry!
An Interactive Vision of Hope
Way cooler, even, than supporting a great cause is that your drawings will be presented in a video montage to the patients of St. Jude during the holidays to convey an interactive vision of hope. The video, which will include a heartfelt solo by SYTYCD Season 5 finalist, Karla Garcia and songs by ICON recording artists, will also be featured online where it can be shared across social networks.
The drawings will also be on display at the ICON Holiday Gala in December and at the Monmouth County Library, Marlboro, NJ in January. ONE lucky winner’s design will become the 2010 promotional holiday card for ICON Dance Complex.
I know you’ve probably heard of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the incredible work they do for children facing and fighting cancer and other threatening diseases. You may not know that Danny Thomas, the late entertainer, founded the hospital in the 1960’s because of a promise. Read his powerful story of faith and hope, or visit StJude.org and take in just a few of the inspirational stories of young people fighting incredible battles. Then, go put pen, markers, glitter, crayons and whatever else you have at your disposal to paper, and make your dance masterpiece!
Dance. Draw. Donate.
Behind the request of dance fans to draw and donate for The ICON of Hope Project is eleven-year-old, Katie Fasbach. She’s the reigning ICON of The Year, a very special title bestowed upon her by her teachers and mentors at ICON Dance Complex. But, as you’ll see in my interview with Katie, the honor is way more than just a title.
Dance Advantage: First of all, a belated congratulations on being named Icon of the Year, Katie! What makes this honor so special to you?
Katie Fasbach: I am so honored to be named ICON of the Year. Geo and Beth Hubela are the most amazing dancers ever, and I’m so thankful that they awarded me with such an honor. Knowing that Geo, Beth, and their family felt that I had the qualities in me to represent ICON truly means the world to me. I have so much for respect for all of them. Anyone who meets them totally feels the same. To be chosen by them, out of over 600 students, is truly heartfelt.
DA: I’m sure you’ve been busy in the last few months. So far, what kind of opportunities and events have you been able to participate in as a result of being named Icon of The Year?
KF: As ICON of the Year, I have had the amazing opportunity to have my first ever blog. We have so many cool events and opportunities from ICON, that it is quite easy to write about. For example, we did a “flash mob” at the Freehold Mall to help support the less fortunate in our neighborhood. Everyone brought a pair of new or slightly used jeans to the mall as a donation. I donated 27 pairs! Overall, we accumulated over 500 pairs of jeans. Then we all danced a flash mob and it was awesome. We took tons of pictures, and I even got to sign some autographs! I had sooo much fun. This is just one of the many amazing opportunities that Geo and Beth offer to their students at ICON. I loved being a part of this!
DA: As ICON of The Year, what other projects or duties will you have throughout the year?
KF: Being ICON of the Year, I am looking forward to a few fundraisers that I have brainstormed with Geo and Beth. I am hoping to run ICON’s First Annual Golf Tournament this spring, with the hope that some of the proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I also have a few other unique ideas, but I don’t want to give away any of the surprises!
DA: Do you like to draw?
KF: I LOVE to draw! For the past two years, I participated in the Talented and Gifted program for Art at school. I truly enjoy it, and always have. I’m so excited to see the entries for the ICON of Hope project!
DA: In addition to raising funds, the drawings are also an opportunity to bring some Holiday cheer to the children of St. Jude’s. What’s your favorite part of the holidays?
KF: I am looking forward to this holiday season. I have a very close family, and we make so many memories during the holidays. I love having off from school, and hanging with my friends; shopping, dancing, sleep-overs. I can’t wait!
For the past few years, my friends and I have visited the nursing homes in the area and sang holiday songs for them. The senior citizens loved it. Maybe this year I can set it up, and we can dance for them. That would be so much fun! The seniors don’t get to get out much, so visiting them means so much to them. We have some amazing routines, I’m sure they would be delighted.
DA: As a blogger myself, I’m excited that you are given the opportunity to blog and write about your experiences throughout the year. What do you think of blogging?
I love doing the blog and always want to spend a lot of time on it. Unfortunately, my schoolwork had interfered. For some reason, my teachers this year feel the need to give our class tons of homework. Between homework and dance, it is often hard to find the extra time to keep up blogging.
I love updating and organizing pictures for the blog. I wish I could just blog all day, but unfortunately, it is not possible.
Nichelle Suzanne is a writer specializing in dance and online content. She is also a dance instructor with over 20 years experience teaching in dance studios, community programs, and colleges. She began Dance Advantage in 2008, equipped with a passion for movement education and an intuitive sense that a blog could bring dancers together. As a Houston-based dance writer, Nichelle covers dance performance for Dance Source Houston, Arts+Culture Texas, and other publications. She is a leader in social media within the dance community and has presented on blogging for dance organizations, including Dance/USA. Nichelle provides web consulting and writing services for dancers, dance schools and studios, and those beyond the dance world. Read Nichelle’s posts.
