This summer, six students and I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland for a four-week internship with Green Light Dance Company. During our time there, we will train under Suzannah McCreight, the artistic director of the company. Together we will collaborate to create a piece of choreography that shares the testimonies of each of the seven dancers on our team. As we create, we will spend time in prayer and seek the Lord’s guidance, asking Him to reveal His character and faithful pursuit of His children through the stories woven into our lives. Once the piece is complete, we will travel throughout Belfast, performing in churches and local communities. Our prayer is that through dance and storytelling, the message of hope in the Gospel will reach hearts and help break down barriers that some people in Northern Ireland may feel toward the church and faith.

I have also been given the opportunity to participate in a two-week study abroad mission trip to Spain and France. This trip will combine dance, service, and ministry. Our team will begin in Barcelona, where we will serve refugees through food distribution and partner with a local refugee church by performing and leading interactive worship dance for youth and children. We will also travel to La Garriga to teach at a multi-day dance camp and perform for the local community. Throughout the trip, we will train in Spanish dance styles such as flamenco, pasodoble, and ballet while building relationships with local dancers and students. In Paris, we will join YWAM and Project Dance, where we will help with event setup, teach flash mob dances, lead worship, and perform in public spaces during a three-day outreach that uses the arts to share the message of faith and hope.