Drama, Dance, DABAR and Music
Michele Hawkins-Jones. – Director, MAAFA Suite...A Healing Journey
Leslie Alston, Dance Ministry Coordinator
Drama Ministry
Contact:
TBA
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
Winner of the 1997 OBIE® Award for LANGSTON HUGHES’ BLACK NATIVITY
“The greatest drama in history took place more than 2000 years ago on a hill called Calvary when Jesus gave his life for the salvation of the world.” --- Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, Pastor Emeritus, SPCBC
In 1986, the Drama Ministry was born from the vision of Rev. Youngblood, when several playwrights, directors, actors and administrators came together under the guidance of Ms. Millie Lee Davis Whittleton. With much prayer, determination and a lot of grit, C.R.E.A.T.I.O.N.S (Christian Role-Playing, Edifying, Acting, Teaching, Inspiring, Orchestrating, Narrating and Singing) was born. Maurice Montgomery followed Ms. Whittleton as executive director in 1996. In 1997, Jesse Wooden, Jr. came to the staff of SPCBC as ministry director through 2008 and was assisted by a board of five members. The Drama Ministry has hosted community workshops and open retreats in partnership with Emmanuel Baptist Church (Brooklyn, NY), Christian Cultural Center (Brooklyn, NY), Mt. Aery Baptist Church (Bridgeport, CT), and the NY Shakespeare Lab.
Our aim is to tell “the Good News” and to “Keep the Drama on the Stage.”
DABAR Ministry
Contact:
Erica Townsend, Coordinator
“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, Write…” Revelation 14:13A
DABAR (“word” in Hebrew) began in 1999 with a charge from Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, to let the scriptures inspire us. Our classes open with a scripture, a theme and prayer as we ask God to inspire us to write. The DABAR sessions conclude with “An Evening of Words and Slammin’ Poetry”. We place no boundaries on our writings because “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness therein…” In DABAR we explore a wide variety of writing modalities such as poetry, essays, journaling, short stories, etc… We have been privileged to have had workshops with published writers and various directors.
Dance Ministry
Contact:
Leslie Alston, Coordinator
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
In 1987 Rev. Youngblood wanted to break tradition, but knew it had to be biblically sound. He researched scripture and found that King David danced. After studying and praying, God gave Rev. Youngblood the name “Davidic” which became the “Davidic Dancers” and evolved to our Dance Ministry of present. The Dance Ministry members come from all walks of life, are all ages, sizes and some even have physical ailments, but that doesn’t stop them from worshipping and praising through dance! Under the umbrella of the Dance Ministry comes: The Unity Dancers/Jewel Dancers (women), Eldad Medad Dancers (men), and Visions of Praise (children/young adults).
Dance Ministry Leadership over the years…
Reva Jamison
Choreographer, 1987-1992
Pier Walker
Ministry Director, 1994-1996
Robin Gray-Bishop
Ministry Director, 1996-2008
Leslie Alston
Choreographer, 2008 – present
