December 16, 2011

 Happy Holidays

from our house

to yours

Wishing each and every one of you a joyous holiday season!!

An Evening Family Prayer

Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded to us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies
that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen.

--- Robert Louis Stevenson

Thank you for a worship-full 2011 and I look forward to a blessed 2012!

"Celebrating Music With A Message"

New Whitestone Presentation Information

Thank you everyone who has agreed to participate this Saturday, October 8, 2011 in the New Whitestone Missionary Baptist Church's Gospel Concert. The church is located at 13323 Fenkell St (at Littlefield) in Detroit, MI. We need to arrive at 4:45pm. The concert begins at 6:00pm. Because we all have time constraints on Saturday, we will meet at New Whitestone. The Adults are wearing the white/red & white dresses from Women's Day and the Quartet will be wearing Shine Shirts and black jeans. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Upcoming Presentation Opportunity

The NPMBC Dance Ministry has been invited to participate in the New Whitestone Missionary Baptist Church's Gospel Celebration on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 5:00pm. Two groups have the opportunity to present for this occasion - the Teen/Youth Quartet "Chariots" and the Adult Dance Ministry "The Lord's Prayer". If you are available for this presentation, please comment below. For more information, please comment below and I will contact you accordingly.

A Wonderful Experience

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, 8 members of the Dance Ministries worked with the Trustees Ministry to host the monthly birthday party for the children at Interim House - the joyful Project Cotton Candy.

What a rewarding and enriching experience. We all left from the church in good spirits, a little unsure about what to expect, but ready for anything. We arrived a little late (5 minutes), but everyone jumped right in, unloading the supplies and prepping the activities and food. There were only a couple of little faces waiting when we first came through the doors, but then "the announcement" was made and children came from everywhere! There were crafts and games and toys and bingo. Shouts of "Bingo", "Pass the glue", "I can't get that funny bone", "How do you play this game?" "Where's the cotton candy?" ringing throughout. I don't think it got quieter when it was time to eat, I believe the talking and laughing just moved into another space as hot dogs, chips and drinks were distributed by the Kitchen Team (great job, ladies and gentlemen). One of our dance members, I won't mention any names (Sis Yolanda), was such a blessing to a little one, she wanted to go with us as we were saying our goodbyes.

Two short hours and it was all over, but we left full of the Spirit and the Joy of Giving Gracefully. Several of the September 24th group have made arrangements to return to Interim House and continue to share the love in various ways.

Thank you, NPMBC, for bringing this wonderous event into our lives.

The Lord's Prayer - Angie Winans

Children, Youth and Teen Dance Ministry Rehearsals Begin!

This Friday, September 30, 2011  marks the first rehearsal of the new season for the Children, Youth and Teen Dance Ministry members. We are still accepting members, so pass the word to friends and families who would like to join the CYT Dance Ministry.

Rehearsal is from 6:00pm - 8:00pm on Friday, September 30, 2011. Our first presentation for the new season will be Fifth (5th) Sunday. October 30, 2011 at 7:00am and 11:00am services. Please make every effort to attend the first rehearsal.

Don't forget to follow this blog and check back often for updates. Also read the Handbook page for pertinent information regarding rehearsals, etc. The calendar should be available before our first rehearsal.

Praises to the Adult Dance Ministry

Congratulations to the Adult Dance Ministry Sisters on a wonderful presentation today at the 7:30am and 11:00am Women's Day Services. You came together as one and let GOD have His way with you!

A special shout out to our newest presenting members - Ernestine, Betty, Debra, Elizabeth, Brittany and Tiffani! Great job, ladies!

Thank you, Sharon, Tyra and Julie H. - your assistance in rehearsals was un-endingly (is that a word?) appreciated!

Thank you, Barbara - for extending your home for extra rehearsals.

Thank you, Yolanda and Liz - for getting me to and from rehearsals.

Thank you, Adult Dance Sisters - you are all the "wind beneath my wings"! Thank you for the surprise, the extra surprise and for just being!

After much arm twisting and emotional bribery (lol), I have agreed to a TWO-WEEK BREAK for the Adult Dance Ministry. We will resume rehearsals on Monday, October 10, 2011 at 6:45pm.

Enjoy your time off - watch the blog for updates - see you soon!

Women's Day 2011

Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 7:30am and 11:00am services, the Adult Dance Ministry will present. Please arrive at the church at 6:30am or contact me, if you will not be attending either service. Attire is the white dresses. Please wear the appropriate under-layers (white leotard and tights/white unitard/black leotard and tights/or something close to this configuration).

Thought Of You - Ryan J Woodward

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

Liturgical Dance and the Uniform

There are always questions about liturgical dance wear. Because my dance history covers both the commercial and non-commercial realms of dance, I have alot  of rules about how to wear dance uniforms/costumes. There are basic things like:

1. No underwear under leotards and tights.  Always a problem with this one, but really, do you want to see Dora the Explorer sticking out. You don't wear undies under your swimsuit, do you? Right, it's the nature of the sport.

2. No jewelry in performance/presentation/demonstrations. Sure you're sparkly and all, but that ring can cut someone really badly, or a finger finds it's way into someone else's hoop earring and now we have a torn ear lobe. Plus, you don't want to compete with the lighting and blind some innocent spectator because you just had to wear those diamond dangles today.

3. No nail polish in crazy colors. Pinks and peaches and french tips are okay. Hot Pink, Electric Purple, Neon Yellow with Tony the Tiger orange stripes is not. This goes for fingers and toes.

4. Hair off your face. Most dance studios require the well known "ballet bun". That's always the best choice. But unless the choreographer says otherwise, your hair should always be pulled back from your face (use a secure headband or other secure hair blending accessories. Your hair should not be distracting to either you, another dancer or the audience. No excessive hair kadiddles or up-do's (unless directed by the choreographer).

Now specifically for liturgical dance - 

5. All dancers should have a white and a black leotard, a pair of white footless tights and a pair of black footless tights. These items go under your dance dresses, dance tops and pants or skirts. If you are wearing a white uniform, please wear white underneath. Dark color uniforms will generally use the the black, again unless directed by the choreographer to do something different, this is a safe bet for what to put underneath.

6. Boys in dance should have black sweatpants, black short sleeved tee shirt, black long sleeved tee shirt, white short sleeved tee shirt and black underwear (tank and shorts). It is also helpful for boys in any dance program to have a dance belt (it's like a protective cup without the hard plastic insert).

As questions come up, I will post the answer here.

Answer In The Sky - Elton John

Project Cotton Candy

Project Cotton Candy is a NPMBC project geared to host monthly birthday parties at Interim House (a housing program for battered women and their children). We need approximately 10 people from the dance ministries to attend with us this Saturday and help host/hostess the event with the Trustee Ministry. So with myself and my sons, that means I only need 7 more people to volunteer to help out. We need to arrive at the church at 10:00am in order to load the buses and arrive at Interim House by 10:40 to unload and set up. The event will run from 11am to 12:30pm and then we will return to the church directly after.

Please let me know if you and/or your child is able to attend and help spread some joy into other children's lives.

Welcome

Hello,


Welcome to the Life Water Dance Blog. This is a place for me to share what's going on in the dance ministries. You can find out information about registration, rehearsals, policies and procedures, etc. all right here on our very own blog. It's also a place where you can make comments and share information with me and each other.
Sharing, supporting, thanking and praising are all in order here.


So again, I say, welcome - Come on in!