More travels, more adventures. My latest stint abroad was to a place that will soon be called home. A combination teaching opportunity and scouting trip for my relocation to Houston, TX had me working with professional modern dance group Dance Ad Deum once again. The artistic director Randall Flinn brought me in to teach mime at their spring intensive. “And if you can stay another week,” he said, “you can perform with us in the prelude to the Alvin Ailey Company.” Like I was going to turn that down! So I went. I taught mime to an extremely talented group of dancers, who picked up the mime with a deftness I don’t often get to see. They turned it into a ministry performance in just a few short days for the workshop’s student showcase. I borrowed my college roommate Chris Hobart’s classic choreography once again from his work entitled Everywhere, to bring the story of Jesus’ interactions with certain women of the Bible to life. A powerful story of how Jesus heals and forgives the broken and sinful. After a fantastic week of intense classes, and several sore muscles (and floor burns), we began to shift focus towards the Alvin Ailey performance. 
The Ailey Company was on the road with their 50th anniversary celebratory tour, including a new work by Ailey dancer Hope Boykin, and Alvin’s own classic 1960 work Revelations. Ad Deum had been asked to provide the prelude performance. A task they were very happy to undertake. Bonus upon bonuses, Randall Flinn knows Hope Boykin (she’s set choreography on Ad Deum before), so we got to take a master class with the talented Ailey company member, and then have a private brush-up rehearsal for her piece, called Long Journey Home (which you’ll be able to see in CT April 19th, call 860-870-5432 for ticket info…). I even got to have lunch with Randall, Hope, and Ailey principal dancer Matthew Rushing—a privilege in and of itself, compounded but wonderful conversation, and some great insight into the workings of Ailey, and cool things that God is doing in and through the Christian members of the team. It was a very encouraging meal!  That weekend Ad Deum performed for the prelude as planned, and Randall asked me to do my signature piece Cookie: Impossible. The responses were very positive. And as a reward, we all got complimentary tickets to watch Ailey’s performance twice (I saw it three times, but who’s counting)! And Hope actually brought us in to meet more of the company, and do a private showing for them. So after two weeks in Houston, I’d rubbed shoulders with several dance legends, and had opportunities few people get. And that’s not mentioning the performances we did at the United States largest arts festival (Bayou City), or a chance to teach at the fourth most prestigious ballet in the nation as well (Houston Ballet). You’ll have to ask to get those! So if you want to see this incredible group from Texas, and you’re in the CT area, come check out their show Libera, April 19th at Living Rock Church, 138 Route 81, Killingworth, CT 06419 April 19th, 7pm For tickets call: 860.870.5432 Tickets $12 in advance, $16 at the door… Questions: Daniel@AmbassadorArts.org For general info visit www.DanceAdDeum.com I pulled some strings so you could enjoy them too! 
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