Meeting Notes
Monday, 1/23/2023
Holidays are the same except Spring Break
January we do not have anything
February we only have Narnia & one performance at Glenview Alliance (19th)
Narnia — until Narnia is over we are in full Narnia Mode. We have quite a few dances to learn (mainly in Act 2). All of our rehearsals will be Narnia rehearsals. It is kind of confusing because there are other people in the dances. There are some parts that are just us but yea…
Show Week — Staging — goal is to stage everything on Monday Night.
Show Week — We will have off the Monday after the show.
One Question: Do you want to still have classes on Monday morning the 20th?
No classes the week of show week
March Sunday performances & prepping for Easter at Genesis & Easter at Providence
Providence is using different art forms to represent different people from the Bible. Good Friday they are hiring mourners & having a funeral for Jesus. We will be doing the thief, wearing prison uniforms. It will be modern version of all of the people.
Loganville School Wednesdays - not mandatory but good especially for DI
Praise Community - April 2nd
As soon as Grace clarifies the dates for Providence rehearsals, she will let us know. Most likely Friday, the 7th we will need to be there at night. Same show Saturday & Sunday.
Spring Break. & you do not have to be here for Auditions
Project Dance on the 21st-23rd. No classes the Monday after Project Dance.
May is Crazy :)
Grace is leaning towards just doing dances & not a full story for the Spring Showcase. Then we can use those dances on the Spring Tour. We will have dances already so it will not be as heavy. Our focus should be to go out.
Mother’s Day - Great Reward
Falkner is going to be doing a video with us, we will be able to use that dance at the showcase
Still want to connect with Ornate, things are crazy for both of us.
Grace would really like to get other guest teachers. Chanee may come a few times.
Mariah - Adjust TGWS Rehearsal schedule on Saturday to morning at Genesis
Unofficial/Official Tech Week/Rehearsal Schedule — Monday, you will probably only have to be there from 5:30p-8:45p but not a definite yet.
Reminder about Dress Code. Everyone is doing great with that so far so just a reminder to keep it up.
Absences, everyone was good with that last semester. Keep it up. Sickness we still want to try to uphold the proof of sickness for it to be excused.
Additional Technique Classes — what is our general consensus as far as classes? What is actually feasible?
Amanda — trying to get a job working from home so it is dependent on that. Friday evenings are a potential day.
How do we feel about just saying get 1 hour in per month and if you can do more, do more.
After Narnia is done, technique classes will be back at LOLPA. Falkner is still teaching his Monday Ballet class & Mariah is still teaching Teen/Adult Ballet on Thursdays.
Pilates by Nicole can be helpful
Grace still has dates on the calendar for when she meets with us & when we mop.
Wednesday, 11/16/2022
Grace will be sending a text with the info for the performances in December. Mariah will put it on the portal in case you lose the text.
We only have Friday & Monday before Thanksgiving break.
Saturday, white leotard, white tanks, & white shorts for worship piece. Green Dresses & black bikers for duet. Be prepared with black leotard & black shorts with turtle neck dresses if needed.
We have classes on the 30th
Next Christmas thing starting Friday & Monday. Grace is going back & forth between adding another one or not.
December
Girls’ Night at the Factory
Video Shoot — one of our Christmas dances or improv.
11th may be taken off the calendar, still TBD
We will need about 220 Cards, Ellie can you make sure that we have them when we come back from Thanksgiving break? Take some home to family, ask churches, etc.
Whenever we only have an hour, we may not have time for crafts.
We are allowed inside this year as far as we know.
As long as we are fully prepared and ready to go, we will just meet at the nursing home a half-hour early. That will give us time to set up, check out the space, etc. and when we are done we are done for the day unless Grace needs us for something.
NOTE that Masks are required for some of the nursing homes, be prepared. If you have a black mask, wear that one.
Betsy may bring her guitar to at least one of the nursing homes
On the 16th, if there is any way you can extend yourself to 3:00p instead of 2:00p that would be great. Let Grace know as soon as you can.
Dec. 19th we will be going to Normandie & possibly Heaven’s Lighthouse
Tuesday, Dec. 20th Great Reward will be doing an event in the evening at Zeal. Christmas Eve type service for the community. Who cannot make it? Ellie, Amanda.
Christmas Party after all that, we will just be together all day.
Betsy is asking if we are able to do the banner idea for residents’ doors. So far it sounds like we will be allowed to do it. We will have to take some time before we go to prep the base of them.
Reminder/Reassurance
CJ gets home tonight, we are assuming she is coming on Friday. Grace just wants to remind us that everything she said is still true. Grace meant everything she said, we are not going back wards. She will learn the choreography her self, Grace will not be working with her on it. Praying it is all good & a smooth transition.
If you have any concerns, be open and bring them to Grace. We do not want anything to fester in the darkness. Do not talk to someone else about things.
Grace will be sitting down with CJ to go over all of our rules and regulations to be sure she knows how things are going and she knows how we are doing things and be sure there is no miscommunication.
Do your best to communicate with her well to help her transition also.
Be sure you take your extra classes and write them down.
Wednesday, 10/19/2022
Christmas Tour Ideas
Christmas Cards for nursing homes, development center, & homeless
Tell people where the cards are going so that they know how to write.
Girls’ Night at the Factory — possibly one card from us to them? Grace is going to talk to their person before going there to see if it would be a blessing or if they will just end up in the trash.
We will be going to 6 Nursing homes, 1 event with the homeless, & 1 event with youth.
Cards taken to other places: Hannah take to Zeal, Jess take to Fusion, Ellie take to Youth Group, Grace ask LOLPA Youth Company.
Plain Cards with Merry Christmas and space to write.
Jess has been looking up what things to take to nursing homes and many things are saying to take decorations that they can put in their room. We should ask each nursing home what we would be allowed to bring for them.
Is there a way that we can make it a craft? Perhaps doing with them depending on how much time the homes give us.
Sing & dance with them at the end. Perhaps bring bells or scarfs for them to use. Congo Line, push wheel chairs so that they can be a part of it.
Self-adhesive foam for the craft? Have some sort of base, and then do the decorating of it together.
Are we able to take edible things? Could we ask churches if their congregations would bake cookies?
Perhaps bring Santa hats & reindeer headbands?
Main Points for Nursing Homes
Dance
Bring one thing - either the base of a craft, jingle bells, or something small that they can keep.
Singing, dancing, bell, interactive type thing.
Cookies (if allowed)
Development Center
Dance
We only have 45 minutes with them.
Food would be good to bring in.
Perhaps we could give them a small gift? Socks?
Possibly bringing care packages with special soap, lotions, socks, blanket, etc. Jess’ Dad may be able to help.
Christmas themed ice breaker
Homeless
We are in contact with Lisa (Great Reward) so things will be a bit easier regarding resources.
We can’t give them too much because then they have to carry it around, but things that will be useful.
Perhaps we could go to the YMCA to give them a gift?
Getting the homeless community involved in singing would be fun! If it is more than just us especially.
Possibly sing Christmas carols with candles?
Hot chocolate
Wednesday, 9/28/2022
Heaven’s Lighthouse — we are doing the Auction and possibly a Monday in December. November 28th CJ may need help at Heaven’s Lighthouse.
Oct. 15th, Grace will be doing a workshop for a conference at the Well, if anyone is able to go. 2:30p-4:30p.
Mariah, make an event request form on the website.
Saturday
The reason we do not have the address is because they are trying to find a parking lot for us. If Grace is not there, Kristie is the point person. She knows the people in charge. Ellie will be making sure everyone is ready. We will do a little workshop with anyone who is willing to be part of it. Grace will teach us what to do for the workshop but we are free to adapt based on the age of the kids.
“The stuff I really actually want to get into.” ~ Grace
Personality tests “16 Personalities” - note that this is not your personality for the rest of your life. This is not God speaking to you. They don’t account for your emotional growth. The reason Grace wants us to do it is so that we can understand each other better. https://www.16personalities.com — Complete the test and highlight a few things to share with the group next month.
Triangles Handout
Dreaded Drama Triangle
Persecutor — comes in and speaks badly to the person (“you did all these things wrong”)
Victim — takes negativity on fully (“but I didn’t have the tools”)
Rescuer — a third person comes in and stands up for the Victim but allows them to remain in that place.
We all have a certain way in which we embody these personas.
These three personas keep the Dreaded Drama cycle going
TED The Empowerment Dynamic
Creator (opposite of Victim) — “what can I do instead even if I did make a mistake, what can I create, what tools can I…”
Coach (opposite of Rescuer) — give the Victim tools to help them apply and grow out of being the Victim.
Challenger (opposite of Challenger) — say to a person who is not doing their job, “hey, I need you to do your job.” Sets boundaries and stick to it. Challenges are for the growth of others.
Monday, 9/12/2022
Dress Code Log — Amanda is going to be logging
Foot Undeez are allowed for Contemporary
Socks are allowed as long as they do not inhibit your dancing in Contemporary
Kristie will talk to you at some point if you break dress code.
Absence Log — Ellie will be logging
Additional Class — just to ease everyone into it, you can miss one a month for now. This is not recommended but if you have to, you can take 3 classes in one week for this semester. You can take the class anywhere. One more time, would Thursday be easier? If you miss a month, the next month you will have to do 2 classes to make up one. If you keep missing, you will need to pay a fee and it will be taken up with the board. There is grace if is actually is impossible.
If people are interested, Falkner teaches Adult Ballet on Thursday nights in Baltimore.
Friday, arrive there at 9:00a. Breakout sessions are at 11:30a so we will probably be done.
Grace wants to meet with all of the teams, when is the best time to meet?
If you get a text from Betsy, know that Grace gave her your number. She wants to meet with everyone 1x per month.
Outdoor Concert is in Lititz Spring Park, we are still waiting on more info. They will be putting Marley on Concrete.
Friday, September 9th, 2022
Intro
This year feels like it will be a year of pruning and laying a solid foundation that is Jesus at the forefront.
With all new things, testing sometimes does not work. If things do not work in this first semester, we will talk about it. We will be in communication so that we are all on the same page. And making sure we are able to voice things that are not working.
There is a reason that we are all here this year.
Things that Grace feels we will be focusing on this semester/year
Grace wants to focus intentionally with each one of us far beyond Diffusion. We are on the earth to love God and love people. Even if you are only here one year, we want you to walk away with tools that you can take with you for the rest of your life.
Being focused on our mission to serve people. Without health and wholeness, we are not able to serve people in the way God desires us to. Pray into these things.
Four Things to Implement this year.
Accountability time during our normal scheduled time
Monthly Check-In (What did not work this month? & Don’t forget we have this… etc.)
Setting up 1/2 hour with Grace each month for each dancer. The meeting is there to talk about how Diffusion can equip you for the future. (What are your goals? How can Diffusion come along side of you? etc.)
Meeting 1x per month for 1/2 hour with someone who is wise in the faith. This is not on the calendar. Betsy Rubadue, Cheryl Smith, & praying about one other person will be doing this also.
Random thing — Cami Herndon spoke with Grace about Providence’s Day of Worship on September 16th. This will be happening during our normal class time. Cami will be doing a breakout session about dance.
Outdoor Concert is like Project Dance in Lancaster 2:00p-8:00p. We do not have any other information yet.
If you have any ideas of what we can do for the Christmas Tour at Nursing Homes, hold on to them!
Potentially have a kick-start week next season?
Accountability — it is not about having a therapy session, it is about checking in with one another and encouraging each other in our faith. We are human beings, we will get angry, sad, etc. but it is what you do with that. Holding each other accountable is important for our integrity and the integrity of others. It is not about controlling behaviors, but seeking to restore relationship with God. Consistent and on-going. Some things we are carrying are not going to be solved with a 2 second prayer.
Cleaning — If you cannot mop the floor on the day you are scheduled, go talk to Grace. Each person only has to do it twice per semester.
Teams — If you are in a team and you find that you absolutely hate it, let Grace know.
Side Note: when it comes to communication, it is often hard to get a hold of Grace. Talk to Kristie if you need anything, especially if it is something that Kristie would know. Grace is not a tester, she is a face to face person.
This year, Ellie is going to be the Dancer Liaison/Teams Manager. She will be helping to keep us accountable as far as getting things done. She will also help Grace keep track of day to day things like dress code, absences, etc. This will help with the practicality of how we function and raise our standards.
Updates
Dress Code — a leotard must be worn in all classes so that we are always prepared to be filmed. Ballet — for Falkner, ballet shoes are needed but if you want to wear a skirt, leg-warmers, back warmer, pointe shoes, etc. You do not need to feel like you are in a school. Colors are allowed.
Hair must be pulled away from the face for Contemporary and not distracting to the dancer or those around them.
Cover ups/clothes may be worn over leotard for Conditioning unless otherwise instructed by the instructor. Please bring sneakers.
No loose clothing for rehearsal unless allowed by instructor.
Dress-Code infractions — 1st offense = Reminder of dress code. 2nd offense = Reminder of dress code. 3rd offense = Warning. 4th offense and on = $5.00 fee to be paid to DDC.
If your hair falls out one time, you will not be flagged for dress code.
Absences per semester - Performance/Outreach
Dancers are allowed to miss 2 performances/outreaches per semester. Director must be notified a month in advance except in the case of an emergency.
If a DDC Dancer misses a 3rd performance/outreach, they will be pulled from all dances for the next performance/outreach and are still required to attend. In addition, proof of additional technique class within one week of the absence must be given to the director.
If a DDC Dancer misses a 4th performance/outreach, they will be pulled from all dances for the next 2 performances/outreaches and are still required to attend. In addition, proof of additional technique class within one week of the absence must be given to the director. And pay a $50.00 absence fee.
If a DDC dancer misses a 4th performance/outreach they will be asked to step away from being part of the company until the next season.
Absences per semester - Classes/Rehearsals
DDC dancers are allowed 3 excused absences from class/rehearsal days. Director must be notified 2 weeks in advance except in the case of an emergency.
If a DDC dancer misses a 4th class/rehearsal day they must provide proof of taking an additional technique class within a week of the absence.
If a DDC dancer misses a 5th class/rehearsal day they must provide proof of taking an additional technique class and pay a $25.00 absence fee.
If a dancer misses 6 classes, this will be taken before the board for discussion and future action.
Family vacations may or may not be excused depending on the time of year. Please discuss further with director as far in advance as possible
Absences due to sickness will only be excused if a doctor’s note or proof of sickness is provided to Kristie or Grace.
Injury absences will be determined between each individual dancer and the director.
Additional Technique Classes — One additional technique class must be taken every week including holiday weeks. Technique class MUST contain some sort of technique that would be beneficial to your ballet or contemporary dancing and must be at least one hour in length. Classes may be taken at any location but the dance must provide proof of participation. Online classes are not recommended but allowed if other options are not a possibility for the dancer. In the case of an online class, dancer must take a time lapse of themselves performing the full class to provide proof of participation.
We will evaluate how this goes and continue considering adding a Thursday class.
Sponsors
Finances are always a struggle when you are a non-profit. We have some monthly sponsors but something that we want to make a staple every year is sending out sponsorship cards. Goal is to send out 5. We want people to get excited about what Diffusion is doing and be a part of it, not just take their money. The great thing about being a non-profit 501(c)(3) is that donations are tax-deductible.
Invite people to the outreaches. Share things on social media. Ask people to pray for us. Engage them.
Website — Dancer Portal is where all information can be found.
Working on a list of things dancers will need for the year, let us know if you think of anything.
Contracts, etc. will be brought on Monday. If you have any other questions, bring them on Monday.