Almost Halfway

A lot has happened since our last February post. We are nearly halfway through the school. After a much-needed Spring Break for everyone, second quarter began on April 2^nd.  Dance History has replaced Anatomy, in Composition students are starting to prepare their own choreographic group works, and next week we have our second guest artist week—with two guest artists coming from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tomorrow the students will be performing for around 600 middle school students at a local church’s Middle School All-Night event. In the beginning of May we will be working with the Salvation Army on a spring swing dance fundraiser they do every year.  The second weekend of June of we have both the school concert and student choreography concert, and on July 4^th we fly out of Calgary, Canada to go to London for our six-week outreach.

At the dock during the last week of 1st quarter.

In the midst of all the busyness, it is key for us to always keep our focus on the reason we all are here doing what we are doing. If we lose sight of Christ, His call on our lives, and our desire to share it with the world, all is in vain. Last week we had a great discussion in our Faith Food class about the importance of knowing what we believe, and knowing the pieces of our faith that are black and white. For example, that Jesus was the Son of God, died, and rose again. That there is a heaven and there is a hell. That we are all sinners and need saving. That the Bible is the inspired, true, word of God.  That we are saved by faith. In the midst of talking through these things, working through pieces we may personally struggle with, and taking them forward to think about sharing on outreach, we started to come together in a greater way. Excitement to go out, using all the things that the school has given us, is building!

If you have not seen it yet, here is a link to our Spring Newsletter. We serve a truly amazing God who has a lot of exciting things in the works for School of Dance Studies!

SODS Spring 2012 Newsletter

From the Students

This week we wanted you to get a chance to hear from a few of the SODS 2012 students. They were asked "What is one of the most important things you feel you have learned so far in SODS." Here are some of their responses....

School of Dance has taught me how to "just keep going," because excellence will come through practice. Practice makes things permanent, and in that I have learned to let go of perfection.
-Andrea

I have learned to take dance out of the box I had previously put it into. Dance has many different faces that are all worthwhile. Some days dance is all about joy and praise, while other days it is teaching me perseverance.
-Lisa

So far in School of Dance Studies, I've been learning how powerful dance can be, that I can use the gift that he gave me to glorify him. I'm also learning to trust him in all areas of my life.
-Sarah

I think that one of the most valuable things I have learned is the difference between perfectionism and excellence. I definitely still have a long way to go, but it has been so life-changing to realize the difference between the two and understanding that God doesn't require me to be perfect. Another thing that is being given to me in this school is the revelation of how dance in so many ways can be used in both worship and in speaking to people's hearts. I am also seeing new sides and characteristics of God, realizing that he is totally, through his extreme love, breaking apart the box that I had put him.
-Kami

From left to right: Lisa, Andrea, Sarah, Kami

One Month Mark

Yesterday we officially hit the one month mark! We had our first works-in-progress base showing last week Friday evening, with a fantastic turn out from staff and students on base. We all have been working very hard...the students already have 3, almost 4 pieces of choreography under their belts, and next week will be hitting midterms for anatomy and all their dance technique classes. They have had teachings on perfectionism vs. excellence, Art in the Bible, nutrition, Dance in Missions, and more! This morning was the first of three classes on dance in worship, and the take away was very powerful. We were encouraged to step out as dancers in worship to lead others into deeper physical expressions of our soul responses to revelations of God. God has been moving, and we have begun what looks like will be quite the ride!

All the students getting a treat at the snack bar to celebrate the one month mark!

Introducing...

School of Dance Studies 2012

We are so excited to be introducing you to our 2012 SODS family!

This school has eight students, four staff, two full-time dads, four children under five, and a God more than capable of holding us all together.  Each and every student is a vital part of this school, and we cannot wait to see these students grow.

         

Here is a glimpse of our first week…

Yoga class wth Kate

Day 1

After many long flights all of the students arrived safely and woke up on Monday to an all base orientation. During that time they got a picture of what it looks like to live on base in YWAM Montana community.  They also sat through an over view of what the next six months would will look like.

Day 2

Tuesday we had our first Anatomy class and started dancing! They had their first ballet class followed by a yoga class taught by our very own dance department director, Kate Espy.

Day 3

The students had both their first rehearsal and small group.

Day 4

Thursday morning we hit it hard again with Anatomy with our wonderful guest teacher Susan (who is a local chiropractor).  The students also had work duty orientation, which everyone on the base has in some capacity to keep community life peaceful and our facilities clean and beautiful.

Day 5

Friday we had the privilege of hearing the history of the performing arts on the YWAM Montana base from our co-base director Mariska Buzzard.  Then came the revealing of our outreach location! More to come on that…

The week was busy and slightly overwhelming, but all in all a great way to start off the school.  We can tell that God is already working in the hearts of the students and is going to be doing great things during.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we journey along together to seek God's face.                                                                        

                      

School of Dance Studies Students and Staff 2012

School of Dance Studies 2012

It's Time!


A lot of work goes into each school of dance and this year is no exception. The work is done happily knowing that the end result will be dancers who bring the kingdom of God through dance in big ways.  God has been speaking to us as staff about this upcoming school and we are so excited to be apart of what He is doing.  This years school of dance theme is "Uprising".  We believe that God is calling these dancers into a time of training, and through this training they will emerge as world changers, bringing the gospel of love to wherever God takes them next. We are so excited for School of Dance 2012 and eagerly await the arrival of these precious students.

  "See I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not

Perceive it. I am making a way in

the wilderness and streams

in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:19

Have a Merry Christmas, and we will see you on January 2nd 2012!
                                             
                                               Love, 

                                                 YWAM Montana Dance Staff 2012

Dance Track

In the Discipleship Training Schools at YWAM Montana, students are given a choice of "tracks" to choose from throughout the lecture phase quarter. In addition to the School of Dance Studies program, our dance department runs a dance track, and students, from a wide variety of dance backgrounds and levels, spend approximately 8 hours a week in dance technique class, rehearsal, and a dance composition overview class. This week we have a video for you of Fall DTS Track rehearsal. The choreography is by Kate Espy. The girls will be performing this at a 'cafe night' before leaving for outreach. Then, on outreach, they all will have different tools to draw from wherever they end up serving...kids dance camp anyone?

A sneak peak in the lives of the YWAM Montana Dance Staff