THE ORIGINS OF HOPE

My name is Hope Easterbrook and I created Dance4Hope out of my love for inspiring youth through the art of teaching dance. I have had the great fortune of fulfilling my dream of performing on Broadway, as the first replacement to the original cast in Hamilton. As well as being cast in the Hamilton Film that was released on Disney+.

Although Hamilton was my Broadway debut, and the realization of my lifelong dream to perform on a Broadway stage, it wasn't until after my dream was realized that I discovered my true passion. Teaching.

After my run in Hamilton came to an end, I continued teaching, and had the opportunity to travel to Rwanda to work with a non profit that used their dance curriculum to develop cognitive skills and social emotional learning for underserved youth in villages across Africa. There, I fully discovered the true power of Dance.

Dance Transcends.

It has the ability to connect us all, regardless of background, race, life experience, age, gender, sexual orientation, and even language. It was in Africa that I realized that there was so much more to my journey with Dance than I ever realized.

After returning home to the US I discovered that the same needs I worked to help youth overcome in Africa existed here at home. Though we live worlds apart, I realized that here at home a great need exists to help children that are struggling to adapt to society, to discover and express who they are, and to overcome and see beauty from the hand they were dealt.

I was immediately drawn to working with refugee children that have been separated from their families at the border and living in NYC. Some of these youth are detained in shelters, and upon learning about their situation I had a thought,

"Let’s let them MOVE!”

I envisioned Dance4Hope allowing these children a safe space to express themselves through art while teaching them tools to help with their social and emotional challenges, preparing them for success in the future. In an instant I took the leap of faith and started developing a program along with filing for my 501c3 status as a non profit.

My dreams are ever evolving and D4H is where I hope to bring them to life, not just for myself but to help those we come in contact with heal through the art of Dance just how the art of Dance has helped heal and shape me. Thank you for being here and for sharing in my vision.

With love,

Hope