Summer Seekers Dance Intensive

THE VISION for theUnAbashedschoolofdance is a foundational one. In order to fulfill the larger vision of developing a professional Christian dance company, UnAbashed will open its doors to the community at large to provide a safe haven for dance. theUnAbashedschoolofdance will offer sound dance instruction in accordance with the belief that God is the author of all things and therefore we shall strive to make Him apart of everything we do. At its core and above all else, the school will emphasize the overall importance of a personal relationship with our triune God, who, from eternity past, has planned the way for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. While teaching how the discipline of dance can be a good model for our life with God, the school will also show how dance can be a tool in helping us honor our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. The hope is to establish a community forum of dance for all ages and abilities as we exalt the name of the Lord with dance.

What if there was a way for believers in Christ to stand on level ground when it came to the influence of the media and the performing arts world? What if Hollywood and moral relativism did not possess the monopoly of intriguing artistry? What if more Christians used art to express their faith and portray a biblical worldview. Perhaps art has been on the back burner because, as it should be, ‘becoming’ has not been the Christians’ primary focus. Yet, what if you knew that art could join forces with the practical and minister salt and light to the inner man? Made in the image of thee Supreme Creator, we too have been given the ability to create. We cannot create something from nothing, but man-made art does have the ability to take what God has created and re-emphasize its glory in all its present tears, trials, guts, and laughter. What if more Christians realized that art is not out of bounds but that it is actually imperative to communicate to our world today? Today humanity consumes visual entertainment at a whirlwind rate. What if the performing art professionals were made up of more Bible believing Christians who better knew how to permeate society with art that is imaginative, subtle, challenging, risky, real, complex and all the while maintaining the gospel at its core? Art is making statements; the question is do we have something to say?

The larger vision is to establish a professional Christian dance company made up of well-trained dancers who feel called to continue their study of dance after high school or college and wish to do so as a career in a specifically Christian setting. UnAbashed the company will be made up of dancers wanting to perform as part of their life of worship in spirit and in truth. This will not be your ordinary liturgical group, but an ordained group flaming with creativity, excellence, salt, and light. Uplifting, encouraging, relating. Sometimes, dancing for the sheer joy of our salvation or as a thanks over our continual blessings. At times dancing through trials. Sometimes perhaps to shake off the shackles of the enemy’s lies. Sometimes just convicting and concise. Other times hilarious. And sometimes showing the darkness in order to reveal the light. Nevertheless, always striving to offer a glimmer into the heart of our Maker.

The dream is to perform for a wide range of audiences including various theaters, churches, nursing homes, hospitals, orphanages, and special events. The meaning of a professional dancer is one who has long trained in dance and has acquired a high level of sufficiency in their dance performance. To be a professional dancer is also to be paid to train and perform in order to continue their dancing at a level of excellence. The title of a professional Christian dancer brings another meaning to the aspiration of excellence, which becomes ultimately for His glory and not their own. The Christian dancer is infiltrated with the Holy Spirit to dance as a testament to the truth and grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They will rejoice in the power God gives them to dance and commend all their abilities to the One and Only Omniscient God of the universe. Dancers whose feet are blessed to bring the good news still need the time and the resources to train these earthly vessels and hence the need for a professional Christian dance company where dancers can earn a living to bring the unique ministry of dance to the lost, sick, poor, hurting, and depressed. Financial sustenance for this dance company must be generated in part by a foundational school, yet in larger part by those led to become apart of this vision with the giving of their time, knowledge and resources. Donations, sponsorship, grants, and assistance will all be a practical aspect of making this dream a reality. Above all, Lord Jesus, please do not bring any of this to pass if You are not in it. Amen.

What if Christianity in the arts meant more than liturgical dance at the Sunday afternoon hymn sing? We have extraordinary gospel choirs dedicated to excellence, why not dance troupes to match? A magnificent God deserves our excellence in every area of our worship. Imagine a professional Christian dance company arising in the south PA area to help further the return of dance to the life of the church and to its roots in paying homage to our Creator. A Christian dance company would be comprised of dancers who share the desire to promote relevance and hunger for biblical truths through the medium of dance. A Christian dance company, rather than art for art sake, would create choreography for the sake of revealing and acknowledging God’s glory and power. We will seek first the applause of God instead of the applause of men. Perfection belongs to God alone, so expect mistakes and look only to God as your unshakable source. UnAbashed will stand on faith in the unmerited grace of Him who stepped off His throne to die in our place, as we seek His strength to be holy as He is holy. As with any organization with a Christian label we mean to simply emphasize our belief that the Creator and Sustainer of all things is the reason we exist and apart from Him we have no good thing, so a Christian dance company simply means that Christ is at our core, there is nothing else.

Photo by Lois Greenfield, courtesy of CityDance Ensemble