Ready, Aim, Fire!

Our year has been off to a fabulous start here at Ballet Magnificat. January was a looong month. Would you agree? So much was accomplished this past month and I would like to spend some time in this blog post telling you about it. With not much time on my hands, I will have to resort to using snapshots, Instagram posts, and simple bullet points. I hope you enjoy this concise little update!

Ready ... getting  ready

 First things first. We began working with Tara Thibodeaux Drew January 8th, our first day back in the studio from our holiday break. With no time to waste, we knocked out learning two whole brand new contemporary worship pieces in that first week. You can bet we were sore after that! I just know everybody is going to love these dances! Check out our tour schedule to see if these pieces are being premiered in a town near you! And if not, you can book us!

Here is a sneak preview of the Alpha company’s final preparations for their tour to Israel. Excitement is building! @taradrewdance . . . #balletmagnificat #balletmagnificatalpha #internationaltour #tourlife #bmag #worldwideballet #israel #ballet #karijobe #dancelife #balletdancer

A post shared by Ballet Magnificat! (@balletmagnificat) on Feb 1, 2018 at 12:30pm PST

 The Ballet Magnificat Alpha Company started preparing our other repertoire for this coming season including "Prodigal's Journey", also potentially coming to a venue near you! We also broke out some of our Christmas repertoire for next season as well. I guess it is never too early to start on that...


 It seemed that the north-central part of Mississippi shut down entirely for a whole two days during our second week back from Christmas Vacation, due to snowy weather and "bad roads", which had me laughing being that I'm from the northern state of Pennsylvania and I know what real snowfall can do. With less than an inch of accumulation, I guess the south just doesn't know how to handle a little bit of frost.

Happy Housemates; Ecstatic about having a few days off from work!

 When I wasn't busy reviewing choreography or doing ballet exercises trying to get back into shape, I spent most of my free time having "coffee dates", face-timing people (with my new iPhone I got for Christmas!), and generally just catching up with friends I hadn't really seen in a while. My friends are the sweetest!


The Occupied Optimist had it's first ever giveaway event, partnering with author Dr. Troye Thigpen to give away her book, "Good Morning Holy Spirit: 50 Days of Prayer and Devotion". It was a total success. Congrats to Carolyn Moten who won the raffle!

If you missed out, keep checking in for future Giveaway opportunities!

Aim ... the  goal

 This time of year can be taxing on my emotions. New repertoire means learning new choreography and having to deal with cast listings which most dancers can relate to how much of a mind game those can cause in our heads if we let them. Not to mention, Ballet Magnificat just held trainee auditions and with that follows trainee evaluations and with that comes people, dear friends, either being promoted or let go. And oh, I know 'turn-over' can be so good but the change can also be hard to deal with emotionally. SO in an effort to stay sane, I've decided that my theme verse, my focus, my aim, and for this semester is to

" consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I will lose all things. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." ~Philippians 3:7-11

...reminding myself that this earth is not my home and that my identity and value are not found in my accomplishments or career but in Christ. If you so please, feel free to join with me in having this AIM for this year.

Fire! ... here  we  go!

 With new repertoire in our back pockets and our suitcases all packed, Ballet Magnificat Alpha is being launched into the new year starting off our tour season with an International trip to Israel where we will be working alongside an organization called Helping Hands Coalition. We have bookings in Israel in 5 different cities and will be performing specifically for Russian holocaust survivors and their family members. We leave for Israel Monday. I am totally stoked for this trip but I have to admit I feel a little unprepared for it, practically, mentally, and financially. I feel like this trip came out of nowhere! I know as we surrender this trip to the Lord, He will bless it! The Alpha company covets your prayers! Please be praying for safe travels and safety overseas, effective ministry, and for changed hearts!

A picture I snapped at the wailing wall at night time last time I was in Jerusalem, Israel in 2014.

Thank you so much for taking time to stop by and visit my blog!I apologize for the brevity and the perhaps disjointed flow of this entry but I hope you enjoyed reading it none the less! My next blog post may very well be written to you from Israel so stay tuned! I have a question for you. If I were to get an Israeli souvenir of some kind from my upcoming trip to Israel, would you be interested in participating in a Giveaway for a chance to win it? 
Let me know in the comment section down below! I have the BEST followers ever and want to bless you guys with these Giveaways so let me know what you think or if you have any other ideas for future Giveaways. I really like doing them. They are fun for everybody! 
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.Blessings to you all! Have a great weekend!

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