Annual Christian dance production will include new scenes, but same faith
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on March 23, 2012 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/ALLISON CARTER
Regan Jackson portrays Adam during a rehearsal Thursday night for "The Creation Scene" in "Dance for Christ." The Easter-themed performance starts tonight and runs through April 1 at the Paramount Theatre on Center Street. The Artistic Dance Academy is putting on the drama.
This year's Dance for Christ production will have two new pieces, including the opening number, "The Creation Scene," when the audience will see the creation unfolding before them.
"Of course it will be in a condensed version because we only have a two-hour show," said Patricia Warren, director of Artistic Dance Academy, whose dancers put on the production. "You see the wind and the water. We will use some video and also dancers."
There will also be animals on stage, in the balcony and coming down the aisles during the performance at the Paramount Theatre.
"Adam and Eve come out in the garden and all of God's creation is in perfect harmony and bliss," Mrs. Warren said. "Then the action freezes and the serpent comes out from behind the tree and talks Eve into doing exactly what God told her not to.
"At this point, everything on stage that symbolizes creation leaves the stage and Adam and Eve are there alone. They feel abandoned."
Adam and Eve dance a song called "Good."
Mrs. Warren said it's about their perspective of what happened and how they feel. Dancers in all black with the word "sin" on their costumes come out and dance around the couple.
"They represent how Adam and Eve's decision has affected the human race and the earth," Mrs. Warren said. "We say we wouldn't have done what Adam and Eve did, but we do it every day. We make that choice every day."
Another new piece is "Fragile." It deals with the things people deal with in life -- teen pregnancy, divorce, cancer and homelessness.
"It's very powerful," Mrs. Warren said. " It shows how these things affect each one of us and how Jesus is with us through it all if we just open our eyes to him."
Mrs. Warren said Dance for Christ is a way of stirring the fire in people.
"For believers, it stirs those coals in their heart," she said. "Sometimes we all need our faith stirred to fire us up. We get caught up in everyday life and if we're not careful, that fire will get low.
"For those who don't know Christ, we hope it will make them want to open a Bible or find a church."
This year's production features 85 dancers.
Also this year, D.J. Coles will do a song the second weekend of the show.
And there is only reserved seating for the 11th annual performance of Dance for Christ. Tickets are $10 each performance and $8 for seniors and military for the Saturday matinee. They are available at the Paramount box office, online at goldsboroparamount.com or by calling 583-8432.
Dance for Christ will be tonight and March 30 at 7 p.m., March 24 and 31 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. and March 25 and April 1 at 3 p.m.
There will be a drawing this year for a handmade rod and reel that has Dance for Christ on it, along with Romans 10:15 that states "How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news."
Tickets will be available at each performance, and the drawing will be held the last show.