Dance For Christ
Coming to the Paramount Theatre
March 11-20th
In 1989, Patricia O’Quinn Warren, founded Artistic Productions Incorporated, a non-profit organization, to provide quality dance performances in rural Eastern North Carolina communities. The repertoire has transitioned from an annual to biennial production of The Nutcracker to annual productions of Dance for Christ.
Dance for Christ is a Goldsboro, North Carolina-based dance troupe. The cast size which varies from year to year, consists of 70 to 90 dancers and actors, ages 10 and up, from different churches and denominations in Wayne County and the surrounding area.
It is a ministry used to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through dance. The production features various genres of dance-ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. Dancers become the vessels, which put God in the spotlight. As believers, the mission is to bring honor and praise to Jesus Christ and to open up the hearts and minds of non-believers to God's word in a way that is both relevant and truthful. Each dance piece tells a story or demonstrates God's unfailing love and mercy.
The journey for these performers begins with auditions in the fall and continues with numerous rehearsals leading up to the major pre-Easter performances. The troupe has also performed at area festivals, churches, conferences, and prisons.
It is not about the entertaining; neither is it about comparing themselves to other dancers, or counting the number of dances in which an individual performs. It is not about the SHOW, it is about the MESSAGE. These performers take their God-given gifts and talents and give back to HIM with praise, glory, and honor.
Patricia O.Warren, founder and artistic director, was trained in her early years by her mother, Ellen O'Quinn, a principal and soloist with the Metropolitan Opera House in West Germany. Warren later studied at the Joffrey Ballet in New York, the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Cusack Ballet in Los Angeles. She has performed throughout the United States and abroad. It was during her battle with breast cancer, that the vision of Dance for Christ was born. Her desire was to use the art of dance as a ministry. The mission would provide a wonderful celebration to reach one more for Jesus and to "change lives...one dance at a time."
Show Dates: The Paramount Theatre, March 11-13th and March 18th – 20th
For information on show times and ticket prices, go to www.goldsboroparamount.com or call 919-583-8432.
