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.