Dancer Profile: Sarah Yarbrough

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the laws my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep the Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
                                                                                                                               Joshua 1:6-9

Sarah Yarbrough

Sarah began her dance training in Katy, TX, at Adamson Ballet School. She continued formal training at Houston Ballet Academy and received her BFA in Ballet from Texas Christian University. Sarah has completed her Pilates certification and is teaching Pilates as well as dance in Houston area. This will be fifth season with Ad Deum

Fun Facts: 

1. Where are you from? Houston

2. How many years have you been dancing?  I started dancing way too young…age 2.5

3. Favorite style or styles of dance?

Ballet—it is the foundation of all! And Argentine tango---because of the music and the interesting people I get to know along the way--and maybe someday if I make it to 80 years old I can continue going to tango classes!

4. What made you want to start dancing?

Or why did you start dancing? My best friends were in ballet class and they were older than me…which is why I was in class at such a young age.

5. What dancers or dance companies inspire you?

Batsheva Dance Company, based in Israel. I love the choreography of Ohad Naharin.

Homer Avila, Ballet Nouveau, AXIS Dance Company

  

6. Favorite work of Ad Deum?

It’s hard to pick. Rwanda Cry---it is a powerful piece that bring awareness to an historical event. As a dancer, there is a story playing in my mind as I dance and I have the unique opportunity to connect with a character and use the choreography to communicate an idea, emotion, thought.

7. Favorite Performance or Outreach of the year with description

MD Anderson. It was a joy and honor to be able to perform there for the staff and patients.

8. Favorite Ad Deum Memory with description

Spending six days in a row with my roommate Tiffany on the New England tour. The journey ended in smiles and lots of laughs and good memories!

9. Favorite Food and why?

Good food. Homemade bread is at the top of the list.

10. What would you do if you were not a dancer?

Photograph for National Geographic and travel the world

11. What type of music do you listen to?

All different kinds…I also love discovering new artists. My taste varies from the classic rock genre, to classical and instrumental, to the Avett Brothers, to world music.

12. Random Interesting Fact about yourself.

I wear contacts. And I don’t like them. But they help me see…so I am grateful. Oh and I have a brother---he’s pretty cool.

“Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost!”–Pina Bausch

“We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams.” –Albert Einstein

There is an amazing dance quote by St. Augustine, but it’s too long to post on here.

Summer Dance Intensive: RECAP

Ad Deum Dance Company's Summer Dance Intensive

Dancers from all over the world came together for six days to train under amazing teachers such as Bill Wade-Inlet Dance Company, Steve Rooks- Former Principal dancer of Martha Graham Dance Company, Durell Comedy- The Limon Dance Company, Vincent Hardy- Complexions, Stephen Wynne- Belhaven University & Talk Dance, Caleb Mitchell- Houston Ballet & Belhaven University, Laura Morton- Belhaven, Fara Sciulli Bowen- Houston Ballet & Point Park University, and the Ad Deum Dance Company. Just to name a few. 

The dancers had an intense schedule of classes everyday trying to fit all of these amazing teachers into their schedules: Ballet and Modern classes daily with two electives ranging from Hip Hop to nontraditional partnering to pointe and variations. What makes this intensive different from other dance intensives is that the dancers attend chapel every morning and attend faith in the arts talks with the faculty members. The focus was to move beyond the dancers technique to becoming a true worshiper in dance.

Here is what a few of our SDI students had to say about there experience this summer:

"It's so good to be back on that dance grind. I may retract that statement tomorrow morning when I can't move my body. But today was glorious. So glad we have a God who delights in the creative spirit and puts his very glory in our physical being to experience and share. It's crazy and so wonderful. I am so refreshed"  - Whitney Hancock SDI Student

"The more I think about it, the more I fall in love with God. He is so great and Dance Ad Deum has helped me to really understand that. I am so grateful to have attended such an amazing summer intensive where I learned to give everything I have to him. He truly is the King of Kings, the one who shakes his mane and roars his sovereign roar. Thank you so much for everything Ad Deum! I will never ever forget the experience and I am in awe of everyone's faith and heart. I was so touched and inspired by all of the staff."

- Nicole Chin SDI Student

"Can't believe it's over. Not enough words can describe how much the week meant to me and changed me. So blessed I was surrounded by such amazing people and teachers throughout the whole week"

- Jenny Keim SDI Student

"The Faculty Concert at the Dance Ad Deum Summer Intensive this evening was simply astounding! I felt like I was witnessing history in the making. Choreographers included, Randall Flinn, Steve Rooks, Bill Wade and Inlet Dance Theatre, Durell Comedy, and Vincent Hardy. If you know any teen and twenty-something dancers who love Jesus, please tell them that the Ad Deum Summer Dance Intensive is the place to be!"

- Michelle Presley SDI Parent & Former Ad Deum Dancer

The theme of the week was Sovereign God: "Until we know without a shadow of a doubt God is good we cannot proclaim that he is Sovereign. Sometimes He comes as the Lion of Judah and sometimes He comes as the Lamb of God. It is all a part of the same. He is the Lion and the Lamb. He is loving and wrath." 

- Randall Flinn

*All photos in this post are credited to Matthew Palfenier. Thank you Matthew for sharing your gifts with us.