Charis Paul: Finding My Passion

 ​I attended my first A Chance to Dance recital in 2012.  I am not even sure why I decided to go that year.  I knew there was a stirring inside me to do something with my love for dance and my degree in special education.  I watched the dances in awe and wonder with tears in my eyes.  I knew at that moment that God had shown me a way to marry two things I love.  I came on board in the fall of 2012 as an instructor.  I expected to learn many things, to be challenged to view dance in a different way than I ever had before and to get to use my degree again.  I never expected to fall in love.  Each one of the children in our program captured my heart and drew me into their world.  Their pure joy for dance, love for me, and many hugs and smiles each week just brought such happiness into my life.  My first year was great and I thought it could not get any better.

​As we started this dance year God began a stirring inside me again.  I realized that A Chance to Dance had become more to me than just a program.  It had become my passion!  God had given me a vision for my future with A Chance to Dance that excited me and fueled the passion He had put inside me for these children and their families.  It is so much more than just teaching dance.  I love every one of these precious dancers, their families who support them in their love for dance, our wonderful volunteers and my biggest encouragers, Ms. Leah and Mrs.Kyndell!  

​This year I have learned so many things about myself that I never would have learned without being a part of such an amazing program and getting to work with incredible people.  I learned to accept my shortcomings and realize that my weaknesses are someone else’s strengths and the people who love you will pick up your slack.  I also learned that I have gifts that can be used in a mighty way to bless others.  Finally, I discovered that working with a team is so much more fun and productive than doing things by yourself.  So, as we approach recital this year I am blessed to see how much our dancers have learned and how far they have come this year.  I am also thankful to see how much I have learned and how far I have come this year!  It is always sad to say goodbye to our dancers for the summer but I am so excited to see what God has in store for us next year!

To our dancers, volunteers and Kyndell:  Thank you for blessing me each week and thank you for dancing with me!

Charis

Leah McGee: My Soul Cries Out

Hello to all!

I can't believe we are already to recital this week.  I am so pumped about this show.  It will be our biggest show yet for number of dancers as well as number of dances.  Everything has come together so perfectly, as it always does.  As soon as I let go of controlling everything, God steps in and arranges it all.

I'd like to share part of my journey to creating A Chance to Dance.  Each of the staff has our own story and I love how they interweave with one another.  When I was studying for my physical therapy degree from 2008-2011, I was constantly overcome with the amount of knowledge and skills that I was required to achieve.  The only way that I could ever come to peace with the demands and obtain my degree was by giving everything over to the Lord.  I was fortunate to have the support of great parents and a very flexible part-time job.  There was little time in my schedule that was unaccounted for.

I also felt a tugging pull at my soul to continue my passion for dance, especially for those with special needs.  It was an easy decision when I was asked to come back and teach modern dance classes at A Time to Dance in 2010.  However, I still felt that there was more that I was to be doing.  This "calling" became more urgent and things began to align quickly for A Chance to Dance.  I felt unequipped, inexperienced, and inadequate.  I had no where to turn but prayer.  Prayer that God would lead me through this new experience and that most of all that I would be a purposeful vessel for Him.  The song, From the Inside Out by Hillsong, became my anthem at this time.  Each time I hear this song, even 4 years later, I am taken back to this time in my life.  My soul was crying out.  I truly hope that our program has and can show love to these dancers- from the inside out.  No matter where they come from, or what they've been through- that we can embrace them and that we lose ourselves in selflessness towards them. 

Here are some of the lyrics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt59GR64Ivk

"A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in Your grace

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

 

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

 

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise....

 

And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord, my soul cries out

My soul cries out to You
My soul cries out to You..."

 

My soul continues to cry out today.  I absolutely continue to hope for impacting the lives of our dancers and their families, but I also hope that we can be a positive environment for all who come to us, including our buddies, angels, instructors, and our many audiences.  I have certainly been changed by A Chance to Dance and by the incredible people who have crossed our doors.  I am grateful to be a part of it and thankful that we are continuing to grow each year.

 

I am looking forward to recital and am already Celebrating all of the accomplishments this year.

 

Stay tuned for special blogs by each of our staff this week.

 

- Ms. Leah