Since it was first created in 2014, Fidèle Youth Dance Company has worked to impact the community for His Kingdom through original, full-length and faith-based productions. As one of Turning Pointe’s two performing companies, they’ve worked to uphold the mission and values of the studio while providing pre-professional training and performance experience in a uniquely Christ-centered environment. With each successful year, the Lord has continued to build up every aspect of the company, growing every detail from cast size and production quality to ticket sales and worldwide creative partnerships that build a legacy of gospel-driven theater.
This year, as FYDC prepares to embark on its 10th season, the Lord opened the door to expand their mission with a brand new division that will take the gospel beyond the community and into the world. Turning Pointe Dance and FYDC are proud to launch FYDC Missions, traveling to El Salvador, Vail, CO, and Colorado Springs in Spring 2024.
Turning Pointe Dance: What inspired FYDC Missions?
Mimi McKinnis, Director, FYDC: We talked a lot last season about the character of “Faithful” in The Pilgrim’s Progress, and about how faith is something we need to pursue. It’s not something that will retain its strength if we don’t exercise it, and it won’t just fall in our lap. Heading into our 10th season, I was praying a lot about the company, about the next 10 years, and about our mission. Fidèle translates to “faithful.” So while the Lord has blessed us so much in growing this company into what it is today, I don’t want the next 10 years to rest on that growth and success, or go through the motions of doing what we always do. I want to answer the upward call of our faith and make a greater impact in His name. As the details of our 2023 season and production were falling into place, I met with Ms. Tina several times to share my heart and vision for what this could be. Lots of meetings and about a year or so later, FYDC Missions has officially launched!
TPD: What will each mission entail?
Ms. Mimi: Each mission will consist of devotions and Worship Workshops, held in conjunction with a 30-40 minute performance of a separate traveling production. Our goal is to use the arts as a demonstration of His Kingdom around the world, and to show how beautifully the gospel and the arts can intertwine. Each workshop will include praise dance instruction, impactful improv and activities designed to encourage participants to engage with their Heavenly Father and creatively use the arts to serve Him with reverent honor. The performance will put those concepts on display, a lot like we’ve done with performances from our repertoire of worship pieces around the city. The traveling production will be a larger-scale version of those local outreach opportunities.
TPD: Where will you carry out missions this season?
Ms. Mimi: We’re kicking off this division with three missions in the Spring of 2024. In addition to serving where our feet are and hosting a VBS-style camp right here in the city, we’ll be traveling to minister to students in Vail, Colorado, and spending the week of Spring Break in El Salvador—a trip that Turning Pointe carried out biannually before the pandemic derailed international travel. Ms. Tina and I are both excited to get this extension of both the studio and the company’s heart beating again!
TPD: So will everyone be expected to be on the Missions Team? How will this new division impact the rest of the production season?
Ms. Mimi: The regular season will be business as usual. We’ll still hold Spring and Summer auditions, have Intensive Week in July, then rehearse Saturdays July through November, when we’ll stage our original adaptation of “Bring Her Home.” New and returning students can have that be their FYDC experience, and we’re thrilled to have them be a part! Students who want to apply for the FYDC Missions Team will fill out a separate application to turn in at their company audition, and missions training and performance rehearsals will begin after the holidays. So simply put, students of FYDC don’t have to join the Missions Team, but students who wish to join the Missions Team do need to participate in the regular season.
TPD: Why do students need to be in the production, too, instead of just signing up for missions?
Ms. Mimi: Over our regular 17-week production season, we pour a lot into our students. We put on a powerful show in His name each year, but what we build in preparation is so much more than the end result. We assign students to prayer groups where they build relationships, encourage one another, and pray over their castmates throughout the season. We work through (and dance out) devotions and Biblical character studies. We work to cultivate hearts of worship from kickoff day to the final curtain. Each mission should shine His light to the best of our ability. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, right? By fostering a love of Christ, a love of the arts, and a spirit of unity in Him during the season, we’ll be better equipped with a stronger Missions Team to take His word into the world.
TPD: Besides participating in the regular season, what are the requirements for being on the Missions Team?
Ms. Mimi: Students need to be 14 years old by the date of the production, this year by November 11, 2023. They also need to be enrolled in at least one class in Turning Pointe’s 2023-24 school year session for a few reasons. First, for health and safety purposes, this will ensure that we have the most up-to-date information on file for each student since the Missions season will take place after the regular FYDC season is over. Second, every Turning Pointe class incorporates prayer and a verse/devotional focus of the month. Not only does this keep Christ as the center of each class, but it creates a unified focus across all dance styles and skill levels. When we know what’s being poured into each student, we’re better prepared to pour out His word together—especially since we’ll no longer be together in weekly production rehearsals..
TPD: What impact do you hope to make with the launch of this new division?
Ms. Mimi: We’re called to go forth and make disciples of all nations, so my prayer is that the impact will reflect that calling, from our own Team in our own city to children and aspiring artists around the world. By carrying out the traveling performance and worship workshops together, we can use our God-given gifts to transform the performing arts into a reflection of God’s creativity and give others the tools to do the same.
For students on our Missions Team in particular, my prayer is that they’ll be built up as gospel-driven leaders, equipped to live with the conscious intention of using their gifts in the arts as a means of ministry. I want to provide them with the experience of working as Christ’s hands and feet in their communities and beyond, building authentic relationships with the people they serve and the teammates they serve alongside.
TPD: Where can interested students find out more?
Ms. Mimi: Everything is on our website at www.FideleYouthDanceCompany.com/Missions. We also have brochures with all the company information for 2023 at the Turning Pointe Dance front desk, or anyone can reach out to FideleYouthDanceCompany@gmail.com anytime! I also encourage everyone to follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) for the latest and greatest information. It’s a really fun and easy way to follow each season from start to stage to schools overseas!