I went on a trip to Houston, TX a week ago to a dance event called Project Dance. It is an organization that hosts different dance companies/ministries/dancers to come dance at an all day outdoor performance in major cities. I started researching their organization a couple years ago when the Lord moved me to the bay area in 2011. When I read about their heart for cities and the great impact they make for Jesus through performing dance I got excited and realized that this was something I wanted to do in San Francisco.
This past year I started
planning an event in San Francisco where I would invite as many Christian dance
companies to the bay area to perform in an all day outdoor ministry event. I
quickly realized how much planning and paper work it was going to take. I was
quickly getting overwhelmed but excited at the same time. My husband and I had been praying about this event every step of the way. During this time of
preparation I found out that Project Dance was having an event in Houston. I
felt a tug on my heart to go. I talked with my husband about it, we prayed and
felt I should attend. My second step was to call my girl friend who owns a ballet school, The Conservatory of Dance and Performing Arts in Rocklin, CA. She quickly
agreed to go with me!
We arrived in Houston in mid
March, picked up our dancer’s packet and found our hotel. It was a fun trip! We
attended a great worship service Friday night. We enjoyed hearing from
professional dancers from around the world, heard testimonies, listened to well
known artists, directors, and choreographers about life experiences that the
Lord has taken them through. It was incredibly encouraging!
Saturday was their all day,
outdoor, ministry performance. My friend and I got a lot out of watching
multiple companies dance to various genres! What I loved and appreciated most
was all the dancing was presented on an outdoor stage so anyone passing by
could stop and watch. I believe the idea of an outdoor performance also reveals
a level of freedom, of purity, of relationship, ministry, and transparency. (And can I just say right here that this is what Jesus is all about! Lol!)
The last day of the dance
event was Sunday. They started out with worship and a devotional. The director
of Project Dance shared the devotional and gave a strengthening and uplifting
testimony through scripture about how dance and the arts have a great impact on
our life and communities. Following were three master dance classes. The genres
consisted of ballet, choreography, jazz, hip hop, modern, and theater. They
were all fun classes and professionally taught.
I was honored to have a few
minutes conversation and prayer with the director. We were able to talk about
the idea of Project Dance coming out to San Francisco! I am so excited! Open
City Dance plans on hosting Project Dance and hundreds of dancers along the
entire west coast at the end of the summer in 2015!
I am so thankful to the Lord
for how He moves mountains and creates valleys and streams within our lives,
relationships, and community. Please be praying for our dance event for next
year and that the plans will run smoothly from the hand of the Lord. He
provides the visions, hopes, and dreams and He is the one who brings them to LIFE!
P.S. Click the video below to view one of my
favorite performances from the Saturday show. Hope you enjoy!
