As Turning Pointe Dance concludes its 20th anniversary season, we look back with gratitude at how far the studio—and everyone within it—have come. It’s a dream that began when studio owner Tina Cook wrote the idea of being a dance teacher in a notebook at just 8 years old, and over the last two decades, has grown from humble beginnings in church classrooms to the city’s premier faith-based dance studio.
In studying this year’s theme of “AbunDance” over the last nine months, we’ve learned that true abundance isn’t an overflowing of pomp and splendor, or earthly possessions. Abundance, like everything else in God’s economy, flows from His Spirit within us. It’s the realization that in each and every season, through the trials and the celebrations, we have everything we need because we have Him. It’s not rolling in riches or basking in trophies. It’s confidence in the abundance of God's ability.
Matthew 6:33 tells us that God will provide an abundant life to those who “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” As the final curtains close on the 2023-24 dance year, we’re celebrating 20 years of being rooted in Him.
2023-24 Season In Review:
September/October
As our students and staff studied the devotional concepts of preparation and cultivating healthy soil, we laid the groundwork for season twenty. We began to tell the Turning Pointe story, and as new and returning students and families passed through the studio doors, we collected more than 100 pounds of wish list items for the Ronald McDonald House of Southern Colorado. The music began to play and steps began to take shape, eight hard-working students received their pointe shoes, and parents got their first glimpse of our foundation at Fall Peek Week.
November/December
Continuing in our Bible study, sowing and nourishment took center stage in our classes, each of which held special Christmas performances for friends and families. Fidèle Youth Dance Company celebrated the culmination of its 10th anniversary season with performances of “Bring Her Home,” an original stage adaptation of the novel by the same name. The Training Division performed Christmas dances for the residents at Brookdale Vista Grande, and Turning Pointe students performed at holiday events across the city, including United Methodist Church’s “Lessons in Carols,” Jared Anderson’s “Christmas This Year,” and Village 7 Presbyterian Church’s Christmas concert. Students in the Teaching Assistant and Intern Program assembled and delivered Operation Christmas Child boxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and worked to put on community events like The Nutcracker Sweet Workshop, and Parent’s Night Out missions fundraiser.
January/February
A brand new year saw devotional studies in waiting and growth as students and staff continued to learn about the studio’s history and the story that brought Turning Pointe to 2024. STARZ Theater Company produced “The Little Mermaid” to kick-off its 11th season, invited students from Title III schools to enjoy a free performance, and performed for sold-out crowds across three days of shows. The Training Division performed for patients, volunteers and staff at Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Fidèle Youth Dance Company’s inaugural mission team kicked off its season with gospel story performances, dancing workshops and prayer services at Liberty Heights Independent Living and First Presbyterian Women’s Bible Study.
March/April
As students began to bloom and bear the fruits of their labor through Spotlight Awards, trial pointe evaluations, costume distribution, and the beginning of progress reports, Turning Pointe studied these concepts Biblically through in-class devotions. Irish classes performed demonstrations and instructors taught Irish group dances at events with the Pike’s Peak Library District, forming a partnership that will continue beyond St. Patrick’s Day and into free community music and movement classes this summer. The FYDC Mission Team traveled to El Salvador, picking up the torch from previous studio trips that were halted by the pandemic nearly 5 years ago. The 14-student team performed the gospel story and taught worship dance across six days in Central America before returning to the U.S. for performances, worship workshops and dance classes at The Vail Church in Avon, Colorado, and at Family Arts Night with D49’s Inspiration Elementary. April wrapped up with Turning Pointe’s second-annual Tutu Fun Run, which raised more than $1,500 for the Baylee Hope Scholarship. Through this and other efforts throughout the year, the fund was able to award $3,000 in scholarships to continue a legacy of love with three of Turning Pointe’s Class of 2024 graduating seniors.
May
The last month of this remarkable year featured devotions in abundant harvest, as Turning Pointe Dance was awarded “Best of the Springs” once again by the Colorado Springs Gazette. The studio was given Gold distinction in the categories of Dance Studio for Kids and Dance Studio for Adults, marking the ninth time Turning Pointe has been awarded top honors in these divisions over the last 10 years. STARZ Theater Company took home Best of the Springs Silver for Best Theater Company, and in the Best Musical category for their 2023 production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” To finish the anniversary season, Turning Pointe put on its final 2023-24 performances, hosting 11 recitals at the Wasson Academic Campus Auditorium and 17 Twirl Red Carpet recitals for the tiniest dancers in-studio. More than 900 students took the stage to give their gifts and talents right back to God, praising His name with dance on stage. Performances were attended by dozens of Turning Pointe alumni, and featured testimonial videos from the current class of graduating seniors, studio directors, and even Cook’s childhood dance teacher.
The last 20 years serve as the first 20 chapters in the Turning Pointe testimony. They prove that God sees our efforts as worthwhile, as long as we are working to build His Kingdom. The Kingdom mindset changes everything. It’s seeing that abundance is all around us—in the smiles of our students, in budding love of dance and theater, and in the warmth of every friendship that started in the studio. It’s in the joy of giving back, serving the community, and using our gifts to bless others. But the best part of abundance is that, even though we undoubtedly grow weary (especially this time of year), God will never run out of abundance. He will always have an abundance of grace, of mercy, forgiveness, compassion, freedom, and redemption. Our studio devotion theme may change year-to-year, but His abundance is and always will be constant.
As we enter a new chapter, and the next 20 years of Turning Pointe, we pray that we’ll gather in God’s abundance each and every day. We pray to hold an abundance of Thanksgiving in our hearts, and operate from the Fruits of the Spirit He’s so carefully planted, cultivated, and grown in this dream.
To the directors, teachers, staff, students and families who have been a part of this story, we say THANK YOU. After 20 years in business, there is still nothing better than introducing someone to the joy of dance, watching each student flourish in their gifts, and giving God all the glory. Thank you for trusting the process, for believing in what we do, for reading all of the emails, and for choosing Turning Pointe Dance for your family.
Here’s to the next 20 years (and beyond)!