Support the Artists | Build the Future | Celebrate 10 Years
In 2026, Spaces of Fontana celebrates 10 years of creating dance rooted in hope. We make art that reveals hope in the beauty, struggle & resilience of everyday life.
From site-specific performances across New York City to historic porches in Austin, we’ve:
Performed 45 times for nearly 4,000 audience members
Created 10 new works and 3 evening-length performances
Collaborated with 40 artists; including 29 dancers, 6 musicians, 3 visual artists, and 2 poets
Taught over 65 workshops and summer intensives
At the heart of our mission is the belief that art has the power to build connection, resilience, and joy. We create contemporary works that reflect the beauty and challenge of being human — exploring themes of faith, hope, and light in every story we tell.
We listen interiorly. We listen to the world. We listen to the Divine. We listen to each other.
From the seemingly mundane — like folding laundry — to real challenges such as hurricanes and infertility, we look for light and hope in every story.
When Artistic Director Evelyn Joy Hoelscher relaunched Spaces of Fontana in Austin, she did so as both an artist and a mother. Now, as a mom of three, she continues to foster an environment where artists are seen as people first — where creation happens through collaboration, care, and curiosity. (Miniature “guest artists” are often spotted in the studio too!)
Our dancers are professionals who bring heart and artistry to every rehearsal and performance — yet their pay remains modest.
Over 50% of our current budget already goes directly to dancer pay. With your help, we can go further, increasing base pay and moving closer to our goal of $20/hour + $200/show.
Because collaboration is at the core of what we do, we want to empower the next generation of dance-makers.
Beginning this season, we are launching a Choreographic Mentorship Program — offering one of our current dancers the opportunity to create a new work with mentorship and a choreographic stipend, to be premiered in our 10-Year Anniversary performance in March 2026.
Your support makes opportunities like this possible — building a legacy of artistry, leadership, and community.
Historically, we cover 44% of our expenses through revenue from ticket sales, workshops, performance stipends and our auction - leaving about $10,000 still to raise to cover our entire season.
We are asking the community to partner with us to raise $8000 and applying for space and art grants to cover the rest.
Every dollar raised above $10,000 will go directly toward raising dancer pay for the 10th Anniversary Season and beyond.
You are as much a part of this mission as the dancers moving on stage. Together, we can share hope through art and build a sustainable future for artists.
Where do you see yourself fitting into our mission for creating impactful art rooted in hope?
Join us as we celebrate a decade of dance rooted in hope. This season features six performances, seven workshops, and one extraordinary anniversary show — celebrating a decade of creation, collaboration, and community.
SEPTEMBER 2025
Small Plates Dance Festival (Austin, TX):Masculus performed by Matthew Sommers & Connor Timpe
Dance Carousel (Austin, TX):ROOTED premiered — featuring Evelyn Joy Hoelscher, Sam Mandelbaum & Nicole Dugdale, with artwork by Kenneth Petro and set design by Brenda Petro & Francis Fontana
Brazos Valley Dance Festival (Texas A&M University):Constant Chaos (Becoming excerpt) performed by Matthew Sommers, Laney Phillips, Evelyn Joy Hoelscher and Nicole Dugdale AND a Partner & Play Workshop led by Artistic Director Evelyn Joy Hoelscher for collegiate students & professional performers
Monthly Partner & Play Workshop (ESPA): Led by Artistic Director Evelyn Joy Hoelscher
OCTOBER 2025
Texas Dance Improvisation Festival (Sam Houston State University): Partner & Play Workshop — the largest dance improv festival in the U.S.
Monthly Contemporary Workshop (ESPA): Led by Artistic Director Evelyn Joy Hoelscher
NOVEMBER 2025
Through These Grounds — November 8 | 4:00 PM | Flower Hill Homestead Museum (Austin, TX) Our one-night-only site-specific fundraiser kicks off the 10-Year Anniversary Season! Audiences will wander the historic grounds at sunset and experience dance flowing from the porch to the rose garden and into the renovated garage space.
Monthly Partner & Play Workshop — November 15 | ESPA An open community contact improv class for Austin-based artists and movers.
DECEMBER 2025
Monthly Contemporary Workshop (ESPA) — December 20 | ESPA Led by Artistic Director Evelyn Joy Hoelscher
JANUARY 2026
254 Dance Fest (Waco, TX):Becoming (excerpt) performed by Evelyn Joy Hoelscher & Nicole Dugdale. AND a Partner & Play Workshop: Led by Artistic Director Evelyn Joy Hoelscher for the festival participants
MARCH 2026
A Decade of Dance — March 27–28 | ESPA (Austin, TX) Spaces of Fontana’s 10-Year Anniversary Performance — featuring reimagined works from the past decade alongside new creations honoring our company’s journey and the artists who shaped it.
BE A PART OF A STORY OF HOPE Join us in celebrating 10 years of art rooted in hope — and help ensure that the artists who create it are supported with the dignity and pay they deserve.
Together, we can make this next decade our most impactful yet.
Art can change the world. You can change the world.
Donate today to be a part of acreating art rooted in hope.
