| Paradosi Ballet Company | |
| Previous Names: | Paradosi Christian Ballet Company |
| Founded: | 2007 |
| Founders: | Joel & Tennille Carver |
| Location: | Tacoma, Washington |
| Executive Director: | Jeff Bischoff |
| Artistic Director: | Larissa Bischoff |
| Official School: | Surrendered School of Dance |
Paradosi Ballet Company was founded in 2007 as the first professional Christian ballet company in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.[1] Paradosi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit faith-based organization. This Christian dance company was established with the goal of sharing the love and teachings of Jesus through their dancing in worship and personal witness. The organization uses dance in Christian ministry by leading worship and participating in evangelistic outreach events. The dancers also share the gospel message of Jesus and their personal testimonies from the stage, participate in prayer ministry, and mercy ministry opportunities.[2]
"Through the Arts We Will Worship God, Love People, Share the Gospel, and to Make Disciples of Jesus Everywhere We Go".[3]
Paradosi's touring company dances throughout the US and internationally[4] using dance as an evangelism tool, leading Christian churches in worship, and teaching master classes that include Christian discipleship at studios[5] and Universities.[6] The touring company has toured extensively within the United States and in 2010 began embarking on international outreach tours. The touring company's primary international focus has been in France, Switzerland, and Belgium partnering with local churches, missionaries, and international ministry teams for evangelistic events during major arts festivals such as the Festival d'Avignon and Montreux Jazz Festival.
Paradosi's ballet ministry apprentice program began in 2011 as a Christian ballet trainee program. Over the years the program has been transformed into an immersive apprenticeship program with the dancers training and serving alongside the Touring Company. The Apprentice Program was developed to help dancers to continue growing as artists while learning how to use dance in ministry settings. The Apprentice Program serves to feed dancers into the touring company while also preparing them to dance with other ballet companies, become dance teachers, and to serve in other areas of Christian ministry. Dancers in the Apprentice Program participate in outreach and worship opportunities with the touring company at local churches, nursing homes, care centers, assisted living facilities, homeless shelters, fairs, festivals, universities, and schools. Dancers also receive theological instruction through gospel focused seminary courses, prayer ministry training, and evangelism training.
Each summer Paradosi hosts an annual summer dance intensive for students ages 11 to 21 in Tacoma, Washington that draws students from across the United States and internationally. The focus of the intensive is on Jesus and teaching dancers how to use their gifts to glorify God. During the intensive students are exposed to different dance styles while learning choreography. Students are also challenged to grow in their faith by participating in daily chapels, times of creative worship, and Bible studies. At the end of the intensive students have an opportunity to dance in worship during a worship showcase for their family and friends.
Paradosi Ballet Company creates worship sets for each season and only dances to original choreography. Current Contributing choreographers include: Larissa Bischoff, Tabi Spurlin, Skylar Moore, Annie Dick, Roshelle Howard, Bonnie Calvert, Tennille Carver, Hope Livingston, Amanda Moore, Hannah Franco, Cambria Best
Current and past worship sets:
| Surrendered School of Dance | |
| Previous Names: | Surrendered School of the Arts |
| Founded: | 2009 |
| Location: | Tacoma, Washington |
Surrendered School of Dance operates under the financial umbrella of Paradosi Christian Ballet and is an integral part of the organization. Surrendered School of Dance, formerly called Surrendered School of the Arts[7] [8] was established in 2009 as the official dance school of Paradosi Ballet Company.
The school's primary teaching focus is ballet supplemented with contemporary dance and modern dance. Dance classes are offered for students from the age of three through adult. Classes are designed to help students to grow as artists while giving them opportunities to participate in worship and prayer.
The school teaches at two campuses based in Tacoma and Orting in Washington. The school also teaches in after school programs at private schools in Gig Harbor and Tacoma.
Early in the history of the organization, the directors saw a need for high quality classical ballet instruction delivered in a nurturing, family friendly, God honoring, age appropriate manner in the community. In 2009 Surrendered School of Dance was formed to meet these objectives. The schools first dance studio was located in Edgewood before moving to its current location in Tacoma.
Silver[9] - Tacoma News Tribune - Best of Pierce County 2024