AFRICA

Ghana

Pre-1999 – Co-ordinator Seth Newman writes that since January 1995, at least once every month we choose a popular spot in town, move there in an evening, fix lights and public address system and start performing both traditional dances and choreographed dances, all African. Soon we are surrounded by a lot of people and we keep on performing, introducing each piece with a minute or two of comments on what the piece is about. If a traditional dance, telling them where the dance comes from. After about an hour's performance I would then in a five minutes' summary throw an invitation to the crowd for those who as a result of what they have seen would want to give their lives to Jesus, either moving forward or indicating by their hand for counselors to move to them to assist them It is always exciting the number of people respond. In 1996 we had at least 150 who responded to such invitations. We have found that dance is a very strong medium for reaching out with the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are only sad that finances have not enabled us move from the city to the rural areas where dance means more to them than the city dwellers.

July 2000 – CDFG Co-ordinator Seth Newman attended the ICDF Conference in Mittagong, Australia.

Kenya

pre-1999 – (pre-Formation) Daniel and Christine Oyoko reported: "Our ICDF group consists of 28 people involved in dance worship. Both Sister Christine and I travel meeting churches and denominations that are now 17 in number who have accepted ICDF's vision and they are joyfully leaping in dances as we have encouraged them. Pray I may get the money to come to the conference in South Africa and that the Lord will open up the hearts and eyes of those in the churches for participating in the work of ICDF in Kenya. Also for the elections – for a leader who loves the Lord and gives freedom of worship, and for protection from famine in my area."

July 1999 – CDF Kenya had their Formation Meeting in July 1999 under a shelter in the middle of a field not far from Lake Victoria in western Kenya. The committee consists of 11 men and one woman, many of them pastors from different churches. Daniel and Christine Oyoko are the Co-ordinators and are battling to run this CDF without phone, electricity or close transportation.  Daniel and Christine have the vision to move to Nairobi and are waiting on God for the money and right timing. In the meantime they are moving in the areas close to their present home teaching and introducing CDFK.

South Africa

June 1997 – 3rd International CDF Conference "Building The Temple" was held in Pretoria, South Africa. At this Conference Lucy Jarasius was elected as International Co-ordinator as Mary Jones moved from that role to the new position of Formation Co-ordinator.

1999 – From the CDFSA newsletter, "Dance Hosanna" – Saartjie de Wet writes in her editorial "A pattern has begun to emerge in CDFSA that needs to be looked at. The main reason for people joining CDFSA is to learn more about Christian dance. To do this they attend the workshops and conferences, some join a dance group and others are forced to lead one despite their inexperience, simply because they have a vision for the dance ministry. The need for resources is endless and we have not even scratched the surface in making these available. After the initial learning phase we enter a time of participation and growth. The person has developed in his/her ministry and is implementing the knowledge acquired. Unfortunately many people are lost to CDFSA at this stage; some feel that they cannot learn anything more and that CDFSA has nothing to offer them; others lose interest in the dance or do not want to make a commitment. A third group simply cannot get along with other members because of a clash of personalities; the last group believes that they cannot agree with the interdenominational and multi-cultural policy where room is made for a variety of church groups, dance styles and approaches – as long as they do not contradict our Beliefs as set out in the Constitution. The person who remains with the CDFSA experiences a deepening of his/her understanding of the dance ministry, what it means and what it stands for. Finally, the member who started out as a learner is now in a position to become a leader, for there are always new interests and new needs. The possibilities are endless. They could become active in leading workshops, serving on committees, undertaking research, collecting resources, organizing, praying... The process from newcomer to leader need not take years - it all depends on what your gifting and experiences are. The greatest misconception is that the organization belongs to the National Committee. We are a "fellowship" which, according to the dictionary, means: participation, sharing, community of interest, a body of associates, a company, a brotherhood/sisterhood. The National Committee is only there to provide the structure and framework in which the fellowship can function. They cannot make it work – it is up to the members to bring out the true meaning of the word. We therefore need to prayerfully rethink our function within the fellowship and not be afraid to step out whenever we can make a positive contribution. We need to become volunteers to take on tasks and fill the gaps that we have identified. It is of no use to wait for someone else if we have received a revelation. All it takes is a phone call to a member of the National Committee."

July 1999 – CDF South Africa continues to be active throughout the regions and is very grateful to be blessed by the leadership of a consistent and united Committee. The CDFSA National Conference held in East London in July 1999 went very well with 150 delegates coming away feeling that their expectations were well met! Apart from tremendous input from all of the teachers, great blessing was experienced through the ministry of guests from America.

July 2000 – CDFSA Co-ordinator Liesl Townsend and several other members attended the 2000 ICDF Conference in Australia.

Namibia

January 1999 – CDF Namibia's formation meeting was held in January 1999. Jealine Reynecke is the National Co-ordinator. She has counseling and secretarial training and has become involved in dance ministry over the last few years leading Emmanual Dance Group that Country Representative Cheryl Lubbe was also involved in.

June 1999 – The first CDF Namibia newsletter was produced. CDFN has been active in ministering in hospitals and Children's and old age homes. They have conducted workshops in various areas and had a tea party as a fund-raising event.

November 1999 – Dancers from six different dance groups danced on Channel 7 for its birthday celebration.

Zimbabwe

July 1999 – Ivan Van Tonder reports that CDF Zimbabwe Formation Meeting was in July 1999 when Mary Jones visited. Mary taught on aspects of dance over a two day seminar during which time they held the formation meeting and Ivan was elected as Co-ordinator.

November 1999 – Since formation, the committee did a lot of ground work in both prayer and collection of resources for use in various setting and cultures in Zimbabwe. Ivan held a workshop in Bulawayo in November hosed by a local church. It was very successful and the Lord moved and many people of all ages and cultures moved – some for the first time. 

2000 – was a time to reach out to the black churches in Zimbabwe and there was strong interest and support for this.

AMERICA

Bahamas

June 2000 – CDF Bahamas are hosting their 3rd annual dance conference from June 11-16 with sponsorship from the Government of the Bahamas. The day starts with prayer on the beach and continues with workshops, presentations, and outreaches to school children.

Barbados

June 1999 – CDF Barbados had their formation meeting in June 1999 with Anna Forde elected as Founding Co-ordinator. Workshops covering such topics as healing, intercession, prophecy and flags and banners were held in conjunction with the Formation Meeting and were attended by 60-100 mostly young people from many different churches. Barbados is the outermost island of the Caribbean, Jamaica the innermost and Puerto Rico the Caribbean link to the USA making a significant CDF triangle in the region.

Canada

1999 – From the CDFC newsletter "Out on a Limb" – CDF Canada Co-ordinator Karen Sudds has been busy travelling. Being invited to teach at the CDF(Singapore) conference was a great opportunity to give back to the country and people where she received her spiritual rebirth through Sharmini Winslow. She taught 5 days on subjects ranging from Children in Dance, Body Conditioning to integrating dance into the local church. In October, with three other members of the National Committee, she traveled to Regina for a weekend workshop with the newly formed branch. Then it was off to Montreal for the Formation meeting and conference there. They did traditional Quebecoise folk dance and learned how connected the regional dances were with the Christian faith. Despite media reports they did not find any division in Quebec. As they gathered to celebrate the mystery of the faith in movement, there were no barriers of language or denomination... After these visits and ones to Okanagan Valley, Edmonton and Vancouver Karen writes: "It is the fulfillment of a dream to see dancers across Canada, networking , encouraging each other even within our differences, sharing resources, praying for each other and dancing our hopes, dreams and present realities with each other. This is what the Christian Dance Fellowship is about!".

Since the conference the Quebec chapter has had several invitations to work with churches of different denominations and cultures including a Vietnamese church, Chinese church, Crosstalk youth ministry, Eglise Emmanuel de Pentecote. and GBU - Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.

The dancers, honor guard (men's flag team), cheer-leaders and tambourines of the Winnipeg March for Jesus have been commissioned to write a manual and video to help others cities use the arts in the Marches around the world. We are in the process of putting this together and it will be sold along with Graham Kendrick's new tape when it is released this year.

Lisa Calverley of Vancouver who is touring the USA and Canada with Duyuma for Wycliffe Translators. When she wrote over 13,000 people had attended the performances in 9 cities with hundreds responding showing interest in prayer, support or recruitment for Bible translation with the aim of God's word reaching every people and every nation. They have had 20 hour bus rides, injuries, technical difficulties etc and have been learning much about spiritual warfare and God working in their midst.

Keith Sutton writes: "The Lord has led me into two exciting new groups - the Men's Dance class at Celebration Company and The Honor Guard Performing Arts Team (flagging). I have found that there are two main reasons why more guys don't dance. First they don't want to look or feel awkward, and second, they don't want to look 'sissy'. but God is out to change that. I first saw the Honor Guard at the 1996 March for Jesus. I thought they looked awesome! Doing their synchronized martial arts-style flagging drills, they had a distinct air of purpose and authority. They did not look sissy. Using the flags feels very much like wielding a sword and shield.

2000 – Diane Sekuloff, Co-ordinator since late 1998 announced that with the decentralisation of the national Committee, CDFC has successfully stepped into the realms of cyberspace! Along with phone, fax and mail, meetings made possible through the internet have enabled the far-flung regions to actively participate in decision making. Although the number of memberships had been difficult to maintain in the subsequent year of adjustment, a new chapter has begun in the Ottawa area (the nation's capital).

Colombia

June 1999 – Co-ordinator of the recently formed CDF Colombia, German Dager, is senior pastor of a pentecostal church in Cartegena, a historic coastal town on the Caribbean. Colombia is the first Latin country in South America with a CDF and is an important gateway to the continent. As well as being a pastor, German and his wife Ileana run a dance school and come from a professional dance background. It was a dream of Pastor Dager's for many years to have a conference in the city's beautiful convention centre. The conference "Redeeming the Arts for Jesus", held in July 1999 with over 400 delegates was the realisation of this dream and the occasion for founding the CDF.

Costa Rica

November 1999 – CDF Costa Rica held their Formation Meeting with Guisella Becotte and Terri Butler representing ICDF. Patricia Brearley, a Pentecostal pastor and director of Jubilee School of the Arts, is the new Co-ordinator.

March 2000 – An arts conference was planned with local and international teachers and the theme was "Rebuilding the Tabernacle of David". When the dates were chosen Patricia was not aware that this week had been chosen by the government to be a national festival of the arts. The conference was chosen as one of the official events and the first Christian one.

Jamaica

1999 – CDF Jamaica has been hard at work raising money to enable members to go to the South African conference. Thirty are planning to attend.

February 1999 – One of the new National Committee members and a member of Praise Academy, Lisa Dobson, represented CDF Jamaica at the International meeting after the CDF-USA conference in February. Everyone enjoyed the Jamaican Christian song and dance she taught.

May 1999 – CDF Jamaica hosted its first dance workshop with the topics: Are you Called to Dance?; Making of a Dance Ministry; and Purification.

July 2000 – A large contingent of Jamaicans from Praise Academy represented CDF Jamaica at the ICDF / International Creative Arts conference in Mittagong, Australia in July 2000. Everyone enjoyed the Jamaican Christian song and dance performed at one of the evening concerts and repeated at morning worship. It spoke of the abundance that God has to pour out on us. We praise God that he provided for so many young Jamaicans to come to Mittagong and for their sacrifice in being a blessing to everyone there.

Puerto Rico

July 1998 – CDF Puerto Rico sponsored an international conference "A Feast Unto the Lord". 450 attended from Puerto Rico, the Carribean and the USA, 80% in the 15-20 age group. One night saw over 100 men all dancing in worship led by David Haddy, with the women cheering and taking photographs. The workshops were very well attended, with teachers coming from Carribean, South America, USA and Australia.

October 1999 – CDF Puerto Rico Co-ordinator, Carmen Lopez has been working hard with the Committee to encourage and bring together the large numbers of mostly young people involved in the dance groups. A spiritual retreat was held in October 1999 with 72 present and three different pastors spoke each day about the dancer and discipleship. The retreat finished with a special time of anointing and many were blessed. 

July 2000 – A group from CDF Puerto Rico was able to attend the International Creative Arts conference in Mittagong, Australia in July 2000.

July 2002 – CDF Puerto Rico National Conference (2nd International Christian Dance congress)

Suriname

July 1999 – CDFS held a very successful dance concert with an enthusiastic audience of 325 people. Members experienced the might of prayer, fasting and prophecy during the time they were preparing for it. There was great unity between the dancers from different churches and a variety of dance styles were featured.

October 1999 – CDFS organised a fellowship time for those who had taken part and showed the video of the concert.

2000 – The regular dance classes have been well attended and there have been ministry trips to two churches to tell them about CDFS, and to another town, New Holland for workshops. Co-ordinator Helianthe Eersel attended the recent conference in Curacao organised by Marcia Bryan-Weekes and found it a great encouragement.

USA

1991 – Prior to the establishing of CDF USA, Pamela Hall, representing the United States, attended the first ICDF conference in Israel in 1991.

Summer 1992 – CDF USA Formation Meeting was held during the Movement Arts in Worship conference, hosted by Randall Bane in Tampa, Florida. Pamela Hall of Gainesville, Florida was elected as the founding national co-ordinator

June 1993 – CDF USA was officially chartered into ICDF during the first national CDF USA Conference, "Seeking the Face of God", held in Dallas, Texas in June 1993. Pamela Hall was re-elected as the National Co-ordinator and Teresa Butler was elected as the assistant national co-ordinator.

1994 – Pamela Hall again represented the United States at the ICDF conference held in York, England. Teresa Butler took over from Pamela Hall as the National Co-ordinator.

June 1995 – CDF USA held its second national conference, "Taking Up the Mantle for Your Life" in Florida, after which Teresa Butler and Guisella Becotte were asked by ICDF to attend the founding conference for CDF Bahamas.

November 1996 – CDF USA assisted the nation of Jamaica in hosting the first CDF Jamaica national conference at which the formation meeting for CDF Jamaica took place. More than 50 people from the USA attended the CDFJ conference in Kingston, and four of the teachers at the conference were CDF USA members. Many other nations were represented and during that conference, Mary Jones, set CDF USA member Marcia Bryan-Weekes in as the new Caribbean Regional Coordinator of ICDF. Marcia, a native Jamaica, residing in New York City, assisted in the organization of the Jamaican conference.

February 1997 – CDF USA held its third national conference, etitled, "Touched by the Master's Hand". At the conclusion of the conference, elections were held for the new national committee, with Marci Salem, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, elected as the national co-ordinator, and David Haddy, of Utica, New York (formerly a resident of New Zealand), elected as assistant co-ordinator.

June/July 1997 – A number of CDFUSA partners travelled to Pretoria, South Africa for the 3rd International Christian Dance Fellowship Conference and ICDF Committee conferences. CDF USA agreed to host the ICDF conference in 2003.

August 1998 – The North-eastern Ohio District of CDF USA sponsored a national arts conference in conjunction with St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Akron – a wonderful opportunity for expanded learning, fellowship, and the sharing of wonderful expressions of worship to the Lord.

June 1999 – CDF USA National Conference at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. For weeks after the event Marci Salem, CDF USA Co-ordinator, received calls from people sharing how much it meant to them to participate in the national conference titled "Woven Together in Him". Set in the heart of Western Pennsylvania Amish country in summer 1999, this gathering experienced blessing in proportions far outweighing the number of delegates. Each evening focussed on a particular type of worship service – Wednesday, Liturgical; Thursday, Charismatic and Friday, Messianic including a very moving celebration of Shabbat.

1999– From the CDF USA newsletter, "Refiner's Fire" – Teri Butler writes in her last editorial as National Coordinator "Worship is not an option. It is a commandment. We don't do it as a pastime or a mere luxury. It is a true necessity. We will not survive the last days unless we are true worshippers.

A dance conference Rekindling the Fire in Florida last year saw 260 attending the workshops and many more the evening celebrations with tremendous spiritual impact. There was a special effort to reach out to the Spanish community.

Tri-State chapter sponsored a seminar on Ministering Arts with the theme Lord, light the fire again! with four different tracks: Drama, Mime, Dance and Leading Children's Dance. Two new seed groups were recently added with Crystal Shenk, director of Dance and Devotion Network, in the Lancaster area of Pennsylvania and Lyrica Smith, director of Kingdom Arts Inc. in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Kingdom Arts has over 300 attending their conference Joyous Praise this May.

ACT (Artists in Christian Testimony) - Director, Byron Spradlin, has been involved in helping to get a new Centre going for the arts in Nashville. This will involve Hosanna Sacred Arts Dance Co. directed by Ken and Sue Tolle moving to Nashville this Fall and Michael Cadle from Ballet Magnificat coming as Executive Director. They will launch the Christian based Renaissance Arts Academy. ACT will continue to re-focus and increase efforts to mobilize music and arts ministries and missionaries who need a "non-profit ministry home" and professional organizational association.

Randall Bane has launched David's House in Kansas City helping to restore the tabernacle of David through the arts and worship and preparing God's people for the Lord's return. The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated with a Shabbat meal and 3 hour courses of worship first established by King David. Both teaching and expressive worship using music, dance, banners, flags, procession were part of the courses. Dean and Helena Thomas of Zion Fire, a banner and worship arts ministry have joined Randall. The aim is to celebrate Jewish and Christian festivals and be a resource and training center.

Randall Flinn has been busy with a European tour with singer Richard Bernhard visiting CDFSweden, Norway for Kreativ Festival, Holland where they worked with 30 Indonesian King's Kids preparing them for a creative outreach, then Paris and Switzerland. They gave many dance and vocal seminars, preached and performed in many churches. He is organizing conference Artreach June 16-21 in Houston, Texas

SACRED DANCE GUILD – from the Journal – Liz Lerman Dance Exchange is a company based in Washington DC that has people from 25-75 years and of all sizes and shapes. It tours extensively in USA and Europe and director Liz Lerman has won numerous awards for her choreography which uses the material of everyday life – topics such as aging, homelessness, AIDS and religion. The company is now finishing a dance based on a traditional Jewish prayer, "Blessed art thou, Lord our God, ruler of the Universe, for keeping us alive, and preserving us, and permitting us to behold this day", and interweaves elements of individual and communal history with reflections on the themes of survival and sustenance.

ASIA

India

1997 – A highlight at the end of this year was a Youth Rally with more than 300 present. They were challenged to use their gifts for God, and many presented the Gospel in music and dance with 12 different church groups taking part.

1998 – A Folk Artists workshop was held in Madras, with the last two days turning into a dance conference with the 55 participants taking part.

December 1998 – Co-ordinator, Samson Manwatkar organised a Christmas Festival for his non-Christian neighbourhood with a gospel presentation in music and dance, and several other performances during the Christmas period.

February 1999 – CDF India held a conference and invited Rina Singha from Canada, and ICDF Formation Co-ordinator, Mary Jones from Australia.

1999 – A CDFI dance team travelled to Germany and France.

1999 – CDF India Coordinator Samson Manwatkar writes: "CDF India is taking shape from its childhood, trying to come closer and get united in the form of movement. India is a very large country which covers many nations in its fold, having wide range of art forms. We still meet weekly for our worship, Bible study and practice. As there are lots of different art dance forms we concentrate on Kathak and movements which help us in our worship and witness. We have included the musicians and drama artists for our gatherings as they also want to join us and are really helpful in our fellowship.CDF India was involved in the Church of North India festival in November when there were competitions in dance, music and drama, In December, 45 artists staged a three hour performance in a big hall in Nagpur city giving a full presentation of the gospel from Genesis to Jesus for non-Christians through dance, music, drama, mime, testimonies. After this our team traveled to many different cities sharing the good news of Christ in different churches and institutions and having meetings with artists. Now we have invitations from other areas. In April Traditional Media Unit had an All India Christians Artists' seminar In His Image in Pune. Traditional Media Unit ICMC newsletter Symbols and Reality Kathleen and Bruce Nicholls have returned to New Zealand from Pune, India. Kathleen encourages others who are independent financially and who would be willing to spend time alongside nationals leading workshops, seminars etc to get in touch with her. Francis Barboza – Good Friday with a difference was held at Guyan Ashram Institute of Performing Arts in Bombay which is directed by Dr Francis Barboza. The life, passion, death and resurrection of Christ were presented in Prayer dance choreographed and presented by Francis.

2000 – India is a very large country which covers many nations in its fold, having a wide range of art forms. As there are lots of different art dance forms we concentrate on Kathak and movements which help us in our worship and witness. Rina Singha, a Kathak dancer and teacher now living in Canada taught at the 99 Artists' Festival. A Youth With a Mission team from Brisbane, Australia also taught there. The Indian teens really enjoyed the hip-hop classes they led. CDFI Co-ordinator Samson Manwatkar is an experienced Radio of India announcer and was very encouraging and professional in his hosting of the evening concerts. These included a variety of Indian and more western styles of dance along with music and drama.

Indonesia

January 1999 – Co-ordinator Nurman Murdits and a group of dancers toured Australia in January 1999 travelling first to Tasmania to the Uniting church youth conference and then visiting churches in Melbourne, Brisbane and Newcastle who had helped to sponsor the tour. It just so happened that the very week-end that they were in Newcastle coincided with CDFA-NSW conference and they were able to come and dance for the participants and see some of their dances. They were very much appreciated.

Korea

November 2000 – CDF Korea held its formation meeting in November 2000. Their Founding Co-ordinator Youngae Park, returned home from the ICDF conference in Australia highly motivated to finalise plans for their own mini-conference later in the year. It was a special time for Mary Jones, who represented the ICDF Committee at CDF Korea's 'birth' because there were links with the worldwide Christian fellowship for university students which Mary's father founded decades previously.

Malaysia

July 2000 – CDF Malaysia had their formation meeting in July 1999. Co-ordinator Karen Ong is a Pentecostal pastor who is studying dance both through a local studio and through Kingdom Life Training Institute. She caught the vision of having a national conference that would help to train dance leaders and start a CDF. The conference was packed to capacity with 200 who had come from all parts of East and West Malaysia. Since then the committee has been very active and have participated in some very large scale events.

September 2001 – Creative Arts in Action – This Drama Workshop was held by Covenant Players and was recommended by CDF Malaysia.

"COVENANT PLAYERS was started in 1963 by a man who felt the Lord wanted to use him to redeem drama for the Christian community rather the the worldly style that it was becoming. Since that date Charles M. Tanner has written over 300 plays and the members of Covenant Players have performed in around 82 different countries in 20 different languages. There are now over 125 touring units of Covenant Players who are committed to serving in this way. … Covenant Players exists to communicate the Lord Jesus Chist through the medium of drama. To that end we commit ourselves to: Go where the people are; Serve the leadership of the church and community; Life a life worthy of our call; Love one another and those we serve. In covenant with God and one another we dedicate ourselves to this task. … We are a non-endowed, non-profit corporation. We are not affiliated with any one church or organisation. Our financial support is derived from the performing engagements and other donations. We are blessed to stay with local families wherever we go and the Lord always provides!"

November 2001 – CDF Malaysia, 2nd CDFM National Dance Seminar

3 very experienced teachers attended from Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia:

MICHAEL XAVIER VOON – a Malaysian artiste has won 5 international choreographic awards in Colorado, a best performer award in the American College Dance Festival at Seattle with the inclusion of three yearly listings in the National American Universities' "Who's Who" honors. He came to the Seminar to teach Youth Dance and a Creative Dance Expression Workshop.

LUCY JARASIUS – the International Co-ordinator of the Christian Dance Fellowship (ICDF) from Australia. Revival & History of Dance in the ICDF world; a workshop on Dance Leadership & Administration; Modern Dance Improvisation & Worship Dance.

DEBBIE BRIGHT – from CDF New Zealand, ICDF Steering Committee Liaison Person for Pre-Charter CDFs introduced Biblical Contemporary Dance, Prayer & Warfare dance; and Hawkins's Technique (contemporary dance).

A pre-Christmas Dance Night Concert was held on the last day of the Seminar.

Philippines

1999 – The "Victory Celebration with Jesus" (a Catholic charismatic rally at which Co-ordinator Chini Chipongian and her group were dancing) was a success but they never expected that they would go through so much resistance just beforehand. The new Committee has been meeting and has started making our vision for CDF Philippines.

2000 – Since CDFP started in 1997, there have been several workshops, a dance exchange an AGM with Chini Chipongian elected as Co-ordinator. Catholics make up 90% of the population and Chini and the others on the committee belong to Catholic Charismatic communities in Manila. Pastor Ed Lapiz is Senior Pastor of Day by Day Ministries and directs Kaloob, a music and dance ministry that researches, records and redeems indigenous music and dance. As a dance troupe they had the honour of being chosen as the official dance company of the Centenary Expo and presented four performances a day for eight months under the name of Kaloob Music and Dance Ministry.

Singapore

1999 – The 3rd Dance Conference was held in Singapore: Aileen Ee writes about the Conference in the CDFS Newsletter "Expressions": "God has opened my eyes to see dance in the spiritual realm. Christian dance is not any ordinary dance but one that is filled with the Holy Spirit and brings life and healing. This conference has set me on fire to want to spread to my church. Though physically I am worn out, spiritually I am recharged and strengthened."

1999 – CDF Singapore contributed to several concerts over this last year "I will conquer" organized by Teen Challenge and Scripture Union, a World Vision charity concert, "Eternal Splashes" dance and mission ministry charity concert, CDF Singapore "I am the Vine" concert and Anglican Diocese Women's Fellowship. Sharmini Winslow is teaching jazz, modern and tap at the La Salle School of Performing Arts reaching both Christians and non-Christians. She also directs Dance Connection.

October 1999 – The CDFS national committee has been pleased to meet regularly at a place with such a comforting name – the Church of the Good Shepherd – and successfully organised a concert titled "Life Spring" for the aged at an old folks home in October 1999. Gifts were handed out to the residents after the presentation which included a Chinese ribbon dance. Earlier in the year, tambourine classes and "Creative Movements" were convened.

EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

Austria

1999 – Mt. Klauschen Mime and Clown – Last year Klauschen taught mime in the Ukraine and then spent four months in London training at Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theatre. During this time he did performances every weekend in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and then to Poland and Italy after the course was finished. This year he and his wife Andrea are learning more about biblical art and theatre to intensify working together in a three month course at the Art Factory, a new school for performing arts led by Garold and Lori Andersen in Liechtenstein, Germany. They have also started on a project with 9 participants from four different denominations doing training, creative times, improvisations and philosophy sessions with an emphasis on finding unity together as preparation for evangelization.

Britain

1994 – 2nd International CDF Conference "Touching the Kingdom", held in York, England

August 1999 – CDF Britain National Conference. In the CDFB Newsletter "Tent of David" Candy Mayor comments: "What I always like about conferences is seeing how God is using us to proclaim his gospel and worship him in so many different ways. Within the fellowship there is a wonderful variety, and , for the first time, we invited John Guest, a vicar and a clown, to the conference. God spoke to us powerfully through John as a vicar and then touched our hearts in a very different way as he ministered to us as Gof the clown... For some years now, many of you have been using dance in intercession, spiritual warfare and healing. At this conference these areas seemed to have been highlighted and I sensed a renewed enthusiasm and excitement to seek how we can use our gifts of movement and dance powerfully for God in intercession, spiritual ware and healing. From different conversations I had with various people themselves. Just a note of caution – it is important for us to learn in some depth before we can start to teach and lead others. Also, these areas do need a great deal of prayer cover, as the enemy would love to stop us and destroy our best intentions."

1999 – THE NEW JERUSALEM DANCERS is directed by Vera Chierico and professional dancer and a Jew who gave up her dance career when she became a believer in Yeshua (Jesus). The group has been in existence for around six years and has ministered in both Christian and Jewish communities. Two years ago they traveled to France, the Ukraine and Holland. After years of praying for men their husbands joined the group. They have seen the fulfillment of a three-fold vision – to introduce Davidic dance worship to the church and messianic congregations; to increase awareness of the Jewish roots of our faith and to reach out to the Jewish community with the message that the Messiah has come. (Vera is one of the Coordinators of the Messianic Focus Network).

MOVING IMAGES DAY was the major event for the North East area. Creative Sign, Movement in Intercession, Dance as Therapy, Nepalese Dance, Men Only, Heaven in Ordinary, Streetwise, Festival of Flags and Movement Voices were some of the images that attracted people of all ages, denominations and backgrounds. The day was full with 170 people and more wanted to come.

ARTS CENTRE GROUP – from their magazine Artyfact – Ian Collinge who has been working with WEC International in Asia writes – "Missionary work to the nations has a vital need – that of Christian artists of all kinds. In turn, these artists must have fresh means of communication, ways adapted from the local styles of music, dance, acting, literature or art. Western presentations may entertain, but they do not easily win Islamic, Hindu or Buddhist hearts. A new brand of mission is needed – the Artist Missionary who must discover thrilling new ways of communication.

SACRED DANCE MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL – There are five in Dayspring the ministry in Dallas, Texas with Jan and Kay full-time. Jan and Kay joined those from Longmead for the German tour in Sept-Oct. Jan writes: "Our second seminar was a group of 25 mainly Lutheran folk. We looked at our fears, anxieties and distresses... We all had our own plastic shopping bag to which we added stones of past worries in the first workshop and present worries and sins in the second. After carrying these bags and trying to sing and dance with them we were so relieved to cast them onto the cross and receive Jesus' forgiveness for trying to carry them alone."

BILL & PAULA DOUTHETT are now part-time with the ministry – still busy but with more time to enjoy their grandchildren. They recently toured Malaysia with Living Word and taught in the Dance Therapy course at Wesley Institute, Sydney, Australia.

SPRINGS DANCE COMPANY has a new director, Fru Bird, who replaces Frances Clarke who was Artistic Director for 5 years. Fru believes Springs present direction is good with its versatility and ability to reach people who would not normally go to church. She would like to seethem do more work in theatres.

Estonia

1999 – Heili Einasto writes "There are only a few Christians among dance people in Estonia and they are not very evangelistically oriented. All the same, I am quietly working on the idea. There is Christian Drama Festival next year and I hope to try to bring dance in and I can also talk about my experiences at the York conference. I am working closely with a choreographer who is Roman Catholic and this can also allow me quietly to promote the idea of Christian dance – in her work as a choreographer in theatre, with her students and later maybe in church. Together with my theologian friend we have begun working on an article about Christianity and dance. I am very happy to get the ICDF newsletter. It gives me courage here in Estonia. I also thank you for all the prayers which I am sure have helped me stand on my own feet with straight back and look at the world with courage and to accept the challenges of life in good faith."

France

July 1999 – Co-ordinator Catherine Golovine and Izak Coetzee from South Africa were teachers at the annual International Conference of Western Sacred Dance held in Avignon in July 1999.

2000 – The CDF France Conference was not held in 2000 due to an invitation for Catherine to work with 300 musicians and dancers for a presentation woven around the music of Dvorak during the Avignon Festival. Avignon was chosen as the European cultural city of the year 2000.

Ireland

1999 – From the CDFI newsletter "Earthen Vessels" – Joan Lloyd was attending a ladies prayer meeting when someone had a picture from the Lord of a stone slab with ballet shoes on it. Joan was sure it was for her because as a child she used to dance and sing on a stone slab, her 'stage', over an old stream. She continued dancing till she was fifteen and had an 8 week tour with a pantomime before being found a good job in an office. Now at age 55 she knew the Lord was calling her to dance again and joined the church dance group. Even though conscious of her age she knows there is no age limit when we are working for the Lord.

Much of the material in Rosalyn Smaill's workshop has proved to be a great teaching resource for Mary Hartney from Limerick. The Israeli folk dances and the 'Our Father' were big hits in teachers' in-service workshops and gave her the opportunity of speaking about the Lord. Most went back to their schools and taught it immediately. They said that even the difficult children seemed like angels when they danced.

April 1999 – The visit of MIMEistry to Ireland in April 1999 was very inspirational.

July 2000 – Members of CDF Ireland attended the International Conference in Mittagong, Australia in 2000.

Italy

1998 – Italy now has an ICDF Representative: Maria Pia who served as a missionary in South Africa, and was involved with Christian Dance for some years. She then met Mary Jones, who was ministering in Rome with Evan Schoombie, and went on to become ICDF Representative for Italy. Now, many months later, dance has been integrated into her Four Square Pentecostal Church's life. Maria's dance group has performed for other congregations, in other churches, open-air evangelism, Christian teenage camps, universities and even at a Christian book launch! The group has now grown to four members and used many different styles: tambourines, flags, ribbon, mime circle and group dances. Maria has contact with other dance groups in Italy – but there are not many of them, and they are not yet a part of ICDF. Maria and her group pray for this ministry.

Russia

1999 – Rebecca Albrecht is leading Preparing the Way dance team for the Feast of Tabernacles Christian celebration in Jerusalem and has recently moved to Russia from USA. She has just started working for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem in St. Petersburg for Russia and Finland.

Sweden

1999 – Annika Klemens writes: "Dancing before the Lord means a lot to me. I have grown in my faith and become closer to him through movement and dancing... Through dancing I've found help to express hard and difficult feelings to the Lord. Sometimes I get disappointed at the Lord or don't understand what he is telling me in different situations. At those times I find it much easier to express myself through moving or dancing instead of talking. In the beginning when I started to train I found it difficult to dance before the other members in the group. I thought they did it much better than me. But the Lord helped me. He has shown me that we are all valuable and good enough in our own way. When I dance today I feel much freer... I don't feel pressure to be good and efficient any more."

September 1999 – CDF Sweden National Conference, Gothenburg. Lena Larsson wrote: "I am grateful that I could take part. The most important thing has been the teaching on relationships, firstly our relationship with God. It is fantastic how the dance opens up our hearts to God. The second relationship is with our bodies. We, both men and women, have complexes about how our bodies are made... The third relationship is with each other. When we become aware that the Lord loves and accepts us as we are, it is easier to accept and love each other.  There are no people that have it all. That is the mercy of God, because then we need each other. We need to support and encourage each other in the dance and in our everyday lives. We need others to receive from the Lord, and they need us in the same way! When you see people dancing together, it becomes a testimony, not about their individual relationships with the Lord, but about their relationship with each other."

PACIFIC

Australia

1999 – From the CDFA newsletter "Leaping" –

FIONA WAKEFIELD – "When I choreographed a dance for my local Baptist church, I had no idea of the lessons it would teach, not only to me, but to many of those who saw it was well. The song was entitled Prayer Warrior and when I first heard it, I was convinced that I wouldn't be able to put any movements to it. But, with much prayer and hard work, God gave me a beautiful and powerful dance that spoke of the importance of prayer to many people. Only one week after I danced to this song I was diagnosed with cancer. This dance that God had given me became my prayer and was a source of strength to my friends, and especially my mother. ...God assured me (through this dance and the prayers of many) that I was not going to die from it... He healed me and along with my story, this dance became a powerful testimony that he used many times."

HIRIA RIPPION – lives in the centre of Australia in Katherine and has a group Different Dancers which dances at both Christian and community events. It started off as a Christian group aiming to dance at Community events presenting a Christian perspective on things but lately there have been more non-Christians than Christians in the group. Their first event was a 10 minute production looking at different ideas of a Christmas presented at a Christmas street party. Since then they have taken part in the local theatre group's production of South Pacific and choreographed a major piece which was an exploration of some aspects of how Australia has been shaped – Aboriginal life and white settlement, war, immigration. The new piece they are working on Coming out of Darkness, being prepared for the Domestic Violence Network annual event, looks at the influences that contribute to violence and the hope of reconciliation between perpetrators and victims. The current group of five is made up of two males (white and aboriginal) and three women at varying levels of technical ability. Hiria also teaches children and dances at her church.

LIVING WORD, CDFA's national touring group has recently toured Malaysia and Singapore joined by Bill and Paula Douthett of SDMI. They were invited by the Anglican diocese of Sabah and the Theological Seminary and for CDF(S)'s 2nd national conference. They had many workshops bursting at the seems with people enthusiastic to experience the many different aspects of dance and movement they presented and many testifying to changes in their lives from the three previous visits Living Word has had there.

REIGNDROPS is a children's movement and music ministry celebrating its 10th birthday. Their program for this year covers the themes "Growing up to be ten", "Food for Growth", "Growing and Changing", and "Growing and Celebrating – Rejoice" Last Christmas they presented Lord I put my trust in you as they lit their candle 'lights', used Australasian hand signs to the words and then expanded the signs into full body movements.

THE YOUNG DISCIPLES – Director Lynda Georgeson writes that God is leading her in a new way. She had an amazing tour with a team of 4-15 year olds and 2 mums and dads through Holland, Russia, Jerusalem and the USA with God working in remarkable ways in peoples' lives and in provision. Now she feels God is saying to be ready to travel by herself with her friend Judy.

July 2000 – CDFA hosted "The Spirit Moves" joint ICDF and CDFA International Creative Arts Conference in Mittagong, Australia. At the conference Sharon Allibone was elected as the new Co-ordinator. Up to now CDFA has been involved in 'building roads', creating a path for Christian dancers and performers to travel in their desire to worship God through their creative movement arts. After a recent vision weekend CDFA is now looking to "build bridges" to help our Christian artists to network and support each other.

September/October 2002 – CDFA held their National Conference at Penrhos College, in Perth, Western Australia. Details of this event are available on the CDFA website.

Fiji

August 1999 – CDF Fiji Co-ordinator Mika Mudreilagi brought a team of young people to Sydney, Australia in 1999 to minister in various churches. He was busy preparing for the 3rd annual World Festival of Praise in February 2000.

New Zealand

1999 – From CDFNZ newsletter "On the Move" –

DEBBIE BRIGHT, CDFNZ Co-ordinator writes: "One of the things that the Lord appears to be doing around the country in CDF at present is to remind Branches and Seed Groups of the original vision that they started out with... and bring to it the richness of the experience and insight that have been gained in the interim. So for some, this has meant a refocusing towards worship and prayer through dance, for others, moving out into streets, shopping malls and Community events in Israeli dance, clowning or Kapahaka.

JUAN CARLOS BRIONES from one of the two Latin American fellowships that meet in Auckland gave the Auckland CDFNZ branch an evening of South American dance. To introduce it he told how the "Salsa" one of their ancient dance forms was used in village evangelism by changing the lyrics to Christian lyrics. The people started listening to the lyrics and were then open to hear the gospel preached.

JULIETTE & DAVID HADDY visited David's hometown in Invercargill for the first time as a married couple when they visited with the Jerusalem 3000 tour. In workshops and presentations they were able to share several aspects of dance. At Knox Presbyterian church after starting with everyone doing "The Lord's Prayer" they divided into separate men's and women's workshops. In the afternoon they worked together on "The Lord's Prayer."

KYLIE GRIBBLE organized a workshop in the Richmond district for the Haddy's. She is now at Wesley Institute for Ministry and the Arts in Australia studying Dance Therapy.

SHONA DUNLOP MACTAVISH has been busy working on a book Leap of Faith and a doco-film on her life's work. The dance she choreographed for the film is called My End is the Beginning and was shot in various environmental locations - the forest before an early settler's cottage, beneath breaking waves, in a railway station, in a cathedral and finally on top of a rock face. It was a great shock last year to hear of Margaret Chapple's death, another of the dancers in Gertrude Bodenwieser's company in Australia that Shona was a part of.

January 2000 – As the sun rose over the Pacific Ocean on 1st January 2000, a worship service was held and dancers Debbie Bright, CDFNZ Co-ordinator and Pakeha (European) and Aroha Priest, a Maori, performed "Morning has Broken". This dance above all spoke of reconciliation and the bicultural nature of CDFNZ. Debbie and Aroha each danced in their own cultural style doing solo parts as well as duet.

February 2000 – At a conference in Wellington in February 2000, CDFNZ was challenged as a nation to pray, pray, pray. Since that time, there has been a dramatic increase in prayer and intercession.