Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!!
Annual Dance Masters of America, Oklahoma Chapter Audition Scholarship Recipients: Emily Canavesio/jazz scholarship, Brittany Albertson/ballet scholarship, Savannah Tardibono/overall scholarship (combined highest score of three styles). We are also very proud of Fareshteh Hamidi who auditioned as well - showing courage, fortitude, and dedication. Great job girls!!

Monday, November 13, 2006

Devotional - Audience of One?

“Audience of One?”

Audience:
a : a group of listeners or spectators
b : a reading, viewing, or listening public

Many artists are independent types. We live in a country where independence of mind and spirit is one of flags we waive proudly over our beautiful America. Christian children are taught to be God pleasers. For the last two years, Christian dancers are now being told taught in many circles to dance for an “audience of one”. The intention behind this phrase is to teach dancer’s to solely focus on God’s opinion of them when they dance. This truth is crucial for young people, and yet also calls for a balanced teaching on basic respect and love for authority figures and peers. Each time I hear “audience of one” falling onto young ears, I become concerned. Let me explain.

After teaching young people dance for twenty years, and growing up in the dance arena since the age of seven, my heart is compelled to give my dancers a healthy and balanced view of life as a believer. If not, our desire to teach our children to be independent and ‘God pleasers’ can grow quietly into a spirit of rebellion or isolate the dancer from the body of Christ. This can lead to low self-esteem issues or pride and haughtiness. If a dancer can worship the Lord in their dance but can’t even get along with their peers in dance class, then how will he/she function in ministry as an adult? No pastor or dance company can work with a person who is not sensitive to others.

A few years ago I was holding auditions for the lead parts in our upcoming ballet performance. One student arrived in the lobby and announced to her peers that she was going to get the lead! Another student asked her how she knew she was going to get the lead already. The girl’s reply was “mom and I prayed and we claimed it in Jesus name!” The mother continued to peek through the window and view the closed auditions...praying out loud the entire time. The young girl left auditions without a lead role, other girl’s feelings were hurt, parents in the lobby were bothered. It was not the mother’s place to tell the girl who would get the lead. It was the teacher’s panel decision to make. This was a degrading of authority wrapped up in religious lingo that ultimately bore bad fruit for many. It most likely confused the little girl and sent her away with the impression that either 1) God had failed her, or 2) her teachers had not heard from God that day. Both were degrading authority.

As believers, we must keep our Lord as our focus, passion, motivation, our source of confidence. Yet, our young people must learn to have their hearts turned towards the people—turned towards other believers and turned towards the lost. We do not want to raise up a religious generation that has no heart for humanity. My brother Chris told me a phrase concerning this topic that has stuck with me for many years. He is a Chaplain in the Air Force, graduated with his masters from ORU, and served on their staff. He said, “It is was not our humanity that separated Adam and Eve from God in the garden. It was their sin.” Jesus was often “moved with compassion” for the people who needed him as he ministered on earth. There is a very practical side of Christianity our children need to learn. Dance is praise and worship to God. It is also a powerful language to mankind that breaks through barriers spoken language cannot pierce.

We must remember to teach our dancers to respect their parents, teachers, judges when they are critiqued, or master teachers when at a convention. I do want my students to value what people in authoritative positions share with them. We care about what our children’s grades are in school, their score on a piano evaluation, an update on behavior from the Sunday School teacher or youth pastor. So why should dance be any different? A submissive and teachable spirit welcomes input. I have heard dancers say “It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of me—I dance for an audience of ONE!”. If the dancer has a submissive heart, this phrase doesn’t put a red flag up to me. If the child is non-compliant to teachers and rude to peers, then this phrase is troublesome to my heart.
Always remember, respect is one of the most practical forms of love.
Mrs. Daphne

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Fall Outreach & News!

Dove Dance at MOMENTUM Conference
We are performing on Saturday, October 21st (Speakers: Joyce Meyer, Tommy Barnett, John BeVere) Hosted by Church of the Harvest on October 19th-21st at 6800 N. Bryant, OKC, OK. To register for the conference, go to http://www.harvestokc.com, or call 405.478.7373 (night services are free).

Children’s Center Outreach Event Oct. 4
Our dancers were very blessed to enjoy the wonderful audience of children at the Children’s Center.

Oklahoma City Rescue Mission Oct. 12
Dove Dance ministered in dance at the Children’s Chapel for parents and children alike.

Trinity Baptist Church
Father/Daughter Banquet Oct. 13
Our dancers are honored to be the entertainment for this wonderful night for family.

Baptist Nursing Home Oct. 14
Our dancers enjoyed dancing and spending time with the residents.

DINO Christmas Spectacular in Branson!
Congratulations to Michael, Michelle, Payton, Josie, Maci, Sara, Madison, and Jocelyn – who will be in the cast of DINO’s Christmas Spectacular in Branson, Missouri from November 1st through
December 7th at the Tri Lakes Center (formerly Mel Tillis Theatre). This is a dream come true while also being a way to share the love of Jesus to thousands. For tickets, go to http://www.dinoplayspiano.com. Dino has put together a Broadway quality Christmas show full of music and dance appropriate for all ages. You won’t want to miss it!

A Word From Victory Church
“We want to thank Dove Dance again for all the time and effort you all made to bring your entire dance team during Word Explosion! and dance the night of Pastor John Hagee’s ministry. Pastor Hagee was so moved by it all. He leaned over to tell me some of the symbolism as you danced. We were honored to have you come. God’s anointing was upon everyone involved. It was very touching. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!”
-Sharon & Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty, Victory Christian Center

“Then the spirit of the Lord lifted me up,
and the Glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Ezekiel 43:5

September News! - LET’S DANCE!

REGISTRATION 
You may still register by mail! Call or email us and we’ll send you the form.

DOVE DANCE in DANCE MAGAZINE! - We are honored to be one of four studios in the country in the ‘06 July Issue of Dance Magazine “Secrets of a Successful Studio”. Since 1994, our vision has been to bring Christian dance to the forefront of mainstream dance in this country—allowing parents to send their child to a Christ-centered studio while not comprising technical training. May all of the credit and Glory be to the Lord.

Dove Dance at MOMENTUM Conference—(Speakers: Joyce Meyers, Tommy Barnett, John BeVere)
Hosted by Church of the Harvest/Youth America on October 19th-21st at 6800 N. Bryant, Okla. City, OK. We will be performing at one of the services. More information to come! To register for the conference, go to harvestokc.com/405-478-7373 (Adult, Youth, and Children’s Conference.)

DMA Nationals—Congratulations to “The Passion” 2nd Place Production Grand National Champions! Congratulations to all 41 of our students who attended, ranging in ages between 8 and 17, who came home with between 1 and 4 Platinum Scores. This is a huge accomplishment at a DMA National event—over 700 dance entries at this convention! We are grateful to the Lord for a successful trip. 
Other National Finalists: 
Sound of Music, 3rd Place Overall National Champion Group, Division 1 & 2 Combined 
Holy Ghost Girls, 5th Place Overall National Champion Group, Division 1 & 2 Combined 
Stronghold, 4th Place Overall National Duet/Trio Champions, Division 3 
A Place for Rosa Parks, 3rd Place National Large Group, Division 4 
Come to Jesus/Josie Doss, 6 Place Overall National Champion Solo, Division 2 
(Other Platinum Scores: Lord, You’re Holy, Thank Heaven for Little Girls, The Impossible Dream, Freedom to Dance).

Congratulations Madison & Michael!—Madison scored in the top five in the nation in both her acrobatic and ballet auditions at DMA Petite Miss Dance, and was voted Miss Congeniality by her peers. Michael also did great and received two standing ovations during his dance. One 30+ year member stated that she had never seen an audiences reaction such as this in all the years she had been at DMA Nationals.

DINO Christmas Spectacular in Branson! - Congratulations to Michael, Michelle, Payton, Josie, Maci, Sara, Madison, and Jocelyn—who will be in the cast of DINO’s Christmas Spectacular in Branson, Missouri from November 1st through December 7th at the Tri Lakes Center/formerly: Mel Tillis Theatre. This is a dream come true while also being a way to share the love of Jesus to thousands. For Tickets, go to dinoplayspiano.com. Dino has put together a Broadway quality Christmas show full of music and dance appropriate for all ages. You won’t want to miss it!

Word Explosion! Tulsa, Oklahoma—Our dancers ministered in dance at the Sunday, August 13th evening service of Word Explosion at Victory Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma—speaker: John Hagee, service emphasis: Israel (3,000+ in attendance). Thank you to Pastor Billy Joe and Sharon Daugherty. We loved it! Cool Fact: John Hagee used Daphne’s hairspray can!


“Then the Spirit of the Lord lifted me up, 
and the Glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Ezekiel 43:5