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Sherry and Bob Jason Watch the video
"The Arts should be a given in a child's life. They are an essential part of humanity. They are what distinguish us as human beings. I see the Arts as a way for children to be healed and nurtured." Sherry Jason Founder & Artistic Director, City Hearts		Sherry Jason, Founder/Director Sherry Jason began studying Dance at the age of 4 and at age 11 she began teaching Ballet to neighborhood children for fifty cents a class in her parents' garage. Even then, it was her firm belief that classes in the Arts should be provided free for those children whose parents could not afford to pay. She performed as Soloist with Ballet Concerto while continuing her teaching, then graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and received her Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law. In 1975, Ms. Jason was sworn in as a member of the State Bar of California. and then joined the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office Juvenile Division in l977. It was there that she met her husband and partner of 26 years, Bob Jason. Through their experiences in the juvenile justice system, Sherry and Bob formulated a philosophy on the nature of delinquency and its prevention. In l984, Mr. and Mrs. Jason opened the Downtown Dance Studio/L.A. Fringe Theatre as the home for City Hearts. Created to provide FREE classes for Skid Row, inner city, at-risk and court-affiliated children, City Hearts was implemented several months later and is now in its 19th year. In l981, Ms. Jason retired from full-time law practice with the Public Defender's Office and founded her School and Performing Company, Ballet for Topanga. December 2003 will mark the 23rd annual production of the TOPANGA NUTCRACKER BALLET. Ms. Jason stages, choreographs and designs this entire production which casts over 65 dancers ages 3 to 60. For several years, she arranged transportation for City Hearts children and their families to attend these Nutcracker performances and in l988, six of the most advanced City Hearts children performed in one of the 'Divertissements'. In l992, Ms. Jason was asked by City Hearts National Honorary Chairperson, Jane Seymour, to choreograph a segment for the popular television series DR. QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN. The waltz scene was a well received addition to the stunning production. As advocate and instructor in the Arts arena for nearly 40 years and as attorney and defender of childrens' rights for over 23 years, Sherry Jason is uniquely qualified to create, direct and implement City Hearts innovative programs of prevention. Ms. Jason has been interviewed by NBC Nightly News and featured on CBS, and other local and international news programs and publications, including Oprah. back to the top

back to the top		Bob Jason, Founder/ Managing Director Mr. Jason graduated from UCLA in l964 with a B.A. in Political Science and from Hastings Law School with a Juris Doctor in l967. He joined the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office in l968, and has worked for the past 35 years representing indigent citizens, juvenile and adult, charged with a crime. Working in the oldest and largest public defender's office in the nation, in high volume courts, Mr. Jason has represented over 100,000 criminal defendants, and has written extensively on issues relating to the constitution and criminal justice system. In January, l984, Mr. and Mrs. Jason co-founded City Hearts. Mr. Jason has served as Managing Director of City Hearts since its inception


back to the top		City Hearts' faculty are experienced, dedicated and exceptional professionals. Visit again soon - we will be adding biographies and photos of our instructors.


Jane Seymour with the City Hearts kids. Watch the video		Greetings from Jane Seymour I am so pleased to be writing to you. I believe so strongly in the value of the Arts for ALL children and City Hearts is a brilliant prototype of a global trend toward the Arts and concern for children. A recent study showed that kids provided with after-school Arts programs ranked in the top 85th percentile academically. As a former ballerina, a mother and a performer, I work and believe in City Hearts because the Arts are not a frivolous pass time. I know that City Hearts provides the inspiration and shows these most disadvantaged young people in our society, the Skid Row, the homeless and the abused child, that they have the ability to use their energy in a creative rather than destructive way. I look forward to sharing years of growth and success with you and I thank you for your continued support and concern for City Hearts. back to the top

Academy Award winner Martin Landau with Sherry Jason, City Hearts Founder/Director and Liane Weintraub, City Hearts President Sherry Jason, City Hearts Founder/Director with Edward James Olmos and Jane Seymour Vera Brown and Sherry Jason, City Hearts Founder/DIrector back to the top