From a young age, we are taught that dreams are limitless and with the right determination and perseverance they can be achieved. At age 13, area dancer Jackie Rotman had a dream to create a youth outreach dance program and did not let her tender years discourage her from doing so. Two years earlier, Rotman had met Julie McLeod, a former Broadway performer and the executive director of Dance Alliance, a program in which Rotman participated. After Rotman told McLeod about her goal, McLeod decided to become Rotman’s mentor and help nurture the young girl’s dream — a free after-school program in which high schoolers would teach dance to 9- to 12-year-olds. In 2005, Rotman’s vision came to fruition with the launch of Everybody Dance Now!
Meanwhile, McLeod, inspired by her advisory role to Rotman, started her own program, one that paired emerging artists with mentors to assist them with their craft. Hence, Art Without Limits was founded in 2009 and has expanded exponentially over the years to include monthly business workshops, peer-to-peer programs, and short-term mentoring sessions.
In an interview with the Santa Barbara Independent, McLeod discussed meeting Rotman and what makes Art Without Limits successful.