Dancer Profile: Tiffany Schrepferman

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
                                                                                               Psalm 37:3-7

Tiffany Schrepferman

Tiffany is currently serving as the Technical Director of Ad Deum Dance Company in addition to performing with the company. After graduating from Belhaven University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, she worked for three summers as the Production Stage Manager of the Reynolds Theater at the American Dance Festival held at Duke University. Tiffany is excited to be a part of the Ad Deum community for her fourth season.

Fun Facts:
1. Nick name? T. Schrep or Schrep

2. Where are you from? Columbus, MS

3. How many years have you been dancing? I've been dancing for as long as I can remember! There are home videos of me at 2-3 years old twirling around in the living room to praise music, but I have officially been training since I was 7.

4. Favorite style or styles of dance? Ballet was my first love because that is what I started with and how I first found my passion for dance, but I love contemporary and modern dance because I feel like it is so real and expressive; very much based in emotion and story that is relevant to the viewer, as well as experiemential for the performer. I also love flamenco and Irish dancing and enjoy performing both.

5. What made you want to start dancing? I have been dancing for as long as I can remember. I feel like that is a very natural part of who I am - I was born for this, and I feel closest to God when I dance. When I saw my first ballet performance by Ballet Magnificat when I was 8 years old, that is when I decided 'I really want to do this, that is who I want to be.' They performed the work "Savior" and even at that young age I remember being struck by the power of the story through movement, and wanting to be a part of it.

6. What dancers or dance companies inspire you? Spencer and Andrea of iMee Dance Company, Dawn Dipple of Revolve Dance Company, NobleMotion Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ceder Lake Contemporary Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, RUBBERBANDance Group, Eiko & Koma, Vertigo Dance Company, Doug Varone and Dancers, Batsheva Dance Company, Scottish Dance Theatre... I have a long list. = )

7. Favorite work of Ad Deum? Topping the list would be "Propphets" the first piece that I ever saw Ad Deum perform. The Lord used this piece to speak to me very personally and deeply. Then "Innocence Not Lost"- even though it is extremely hard on the body to perform, this piece is a cry and a prayer on behalf of those who have no voice, and I am honored to dance it for them.

8. Favorite Performance or Outreach of the year? Anytime we get to do a Human trafficking benefit concert, or perform in an awareness event. I also really enjoy our Spring Break Intensive/Project Dance Performances.

9. Favorite Ad Deum Memory? Performing "Innocence Not Lost" at a human trafficking benefit concert on my birthday 2 years ago. We were sitting backstage getting ready to go on and we could hear the speaker telling her story before us. She had been a victim of human trafficking and had been rescued. Her story was so moving and I'm pretty sure that all of us were crying backstage, then we went out to dance and I felt like we all connected so much with what we were dancing about, and really interceded on behalf of those girls. After that day, I feel like we really bonded as a group and in mutual purpose, and it shifted the way we connected to each other and danced together from then on in a good way.

10. Favorite Food? AVOCADOS!!! They are just so good! But I also have a weakness for Whole Foods pizza.

11. What would you do if you were not a dancer? I would be a Lighting Designer/Stage Manager, and possibly a Dance Festival Director... things I already do/hope to be someday.

12. What type of music do you listen to? Soundtracks! I just love epic orchestral music... anything from IHOP (International House of Prayer)

13. Random Interesting Fact? I am actually quite good at archery and used to teach it. I can also do a mean turkey call and have been known to hold my own in a conversation with said birds.

"Dance is the Voice of the Soul." - Unknown