ROBERTA CORTES
Dance

Roberta was born and raised in Brazil and received her classical ballet training there. She has been in numerous ballet performances both in Brazil and the United States where she danced with the HCC Ensemble, the Sandra Organ Dance Company, Lisa Gonsales and Psophonia Dance Company. She has an Associates Degree in Arts from Houston Community College, where she received the Heinen Scholarship for the Performing Arts in 2005. Roberta has been passionate about teaching kids for many years and she believes that art is a very important part of their education. She believes that art brings discipline, self confidence and strength to kids of all ages. With love, respect and appreciation, Roberta continues to be a part of the Hope Stone family and is very excited to help to transform kid's lives in the Kid's Play program.

CHRIS HOWARD
Music

Chris has been performing hand percussion in Houston since 1997. He has played with numerous bands and ensembles covering a broad array of traditions including Balkan, Turkish, West African, Spanish, Cuban, Brazilian and Jazz. In 2002, Chris began studying drum set and is thoroughly enjoying earning his chops. He loves to play for dance and often accompanies classes and workshops at Houston Ballet, HCC, Hope Center, Barnevelder, U of H and the JCC. Also a lover of theatre he has played for several musicals at Theatre Lab Houston, HCC, Main St. Theater and Stages Repertory Theatre. He currently plays with the nuevo flamenco group Garcia y Reyna, as well as with the genre defying sextet Free Radicals, and is currently studying percussion with Jack Westmoreland and music composition with Mary Carol Warwick. Chris incorporates percussion, geography and culture into a class that aims to not only build musical skills and self confidence, but also to impart an appreciation of, and a desire to explore and understand other cultures.

JASON JACKSON
Music

Jason Jackson, born and raised in Houston, Texas, has been involved in the local art scene for the past seven years. Since 2003, he's taught classes for MECA and the Nameless Sound organizations, teaching beginner's piano, clarinet, flute, saxophone, and musical improvisation classes and workshops.
He's currently playing regularly with five different local bands, and is always involved with side projects and random collaborations. His main ambition is to empower his students to learn how to express themselves in their own unique way, through their art, and to communicate with his music a sense of urgency, positive-ity, joy, compassion, and love.

GAYLA MILLER
Theater

Gayla Miller began teaching theatre in 1988. She is devoted to the development of young people and believes that training in the arts is vital to growing mature citizens in the Houston arts community Gayla has been honored to work with Hope Stone Inc, Suchu Dance, Houston Ballet Academy, Mainstreet Theatre, Ripley House, Houston Dance Coalition, Houston Academy of Dramatic Arts, Comedy Sportz Houston, Texas Repertory Theatre and many more.
Gayla is currently the Executive Director of the O’Quinn Collection; A world-class Museum coming to Houston.
“I teach art because it reminds me that there are infinite possibilities. Children are pure potential! They are individuals that have opinions that could one day change our world. I want to help them tap into their own power and creativity so they can find balance in a world that does not support art”

JOHN MORRIS
Music

The wonder and innate creativity of kids is the perfect atmosphere for learning! Their ability to focus and "apply in the moment" is fascinating to be around. And it's always in the spirit of play - what could be more fun or healthy to be around! My teaching style is best described as directive yet open and collaborative.

JENNI ROTTER
Theater

A professional singer, dancer, actress and trained pianist, Jennifer Rotter has been performing and volunteering in the Houston arts scene since 2000. In 2005 she turned her talents to educating young children about the arts and continues to engage and motivate early learners in creative exploration through the fine arts using eurhythmics based techniques.

JANE WEINER
Dance

Jane Weiner graduated from Bowling Green University with a degree in deaf/elementary education and a minor in dance. She had the unbelievable opportunity to work with the Doug Elkins Dance Company for a decade of fine dancing, touring and experiences before her move to Houston, TX in 1996. She has been a teacher of children since 1982 at after school projects and summer camps, within dance academies and school systems and finally as co-creator of the Youth Arts Program at the Bates Dance Festival in Lewiston, ME, which she ran for 15 years. As the artistic director of Hope Stone, Inc., she started the Kid’s Play arts outreach program in 2002, which scholarships at-risk children and youth with classes in music, theater and dance. At present Hope Center has gifted over 200 scholarships to children of all ages at their studio. Jane believes ALL children are artists, and art creates healthy roots that ground children to the earth, allowing them to grow in healthy, positive and amazing ways!