| 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 |
Paradosi Ballet Company was founded in 2007 as the first professional Christian ballet company in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.[1] Paradosi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian dance company that was established with the goal of sharing the love and teachings of Jesus through dance, drama, and personal witness. The organizations mission is that: "Through the Arts We Will Worship God, Love People, Share the Gospel, and to Make Disciples of Jesus Everywhere We Go". The organization uses dance in Christian ministry by sharing Bible based story ballets, leading worship in churches, dancing during evangelistic outreach events, sharing the gospel message, and through the sharing of personal testimonies from the stage.[2] [3]
Paradosi's touring company performs throughout the US and internationally[4] using dance as an evangelism tool, leading Christian churches in worship, and teaching master classes and choreography 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 molded 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 opportunities with the touring company at local churches, nursing homes, care centers, assisted living facilities, homeless shelters, fairs, festivals, universities, and schools.
Paradosi's dance school, Surrendered School of Dance, formerly called Surrendered School of the Arts[7] was established in 2009. The school offers dance classes in ballet, contemporary dance, and modern for students from the ages of three through adult at four campuses in Tacoma, Orting,[8] and Gig Harbor in Washington state.
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. 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 share what they have learned during a gala performance for their family and friends.
Paradosi does not have one set choreographer. Paradosi pulls from the talent within the ministry, both current and past members, encouraging creative worshipful expression from the members of the ministry to keep the repertoire fresh and engaging.
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
Paradosi Ballet Company only performs original works.