Although those working at the studio believe both that music is powerful and that they need to be careful in the messages they expose students to, they don’t choose to draw a line at secular music. Photo by Ed Schipul (Flicker CC)

Creator’s Arts Centre encourages students to dance outside the box

“We make no apologies for the fact that Creator’s was founded on Christian principles and I make no apologies myself for being a Christian woman"

KELOWNA, BC—For Laura Elliott, the artistic director of Creator’s Arts Centre (CAC), running a Christ-based organization means managing a dance studio with Christian principles at its base.

“We encourage people,” says Elliott. “We encourage them to take risks, to be bold, to laugh, to cry, to dream, to push hard, to explore, to lift each other up and to be the best artist they can be.”

The dance studio has more than 200 students, and the faculty creates class recommendations for each person based on what will benefit him or her as an individual.

“They are not just ‘dancers,’” says Elliott. “They are individual people who need encouragement because they are people, not because they’re creatives.”

“We believe that all people who come through our door—regardless of age, gender, ability or religious affiliation—deserve to be treated with love and respect. We strive to find a place for them at our studio where they can be challenged and grow physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

With its choreography, costuming and music choices, CAC strives to honour God with performances that are age appropriate and meaningful, even though a large percentage of their student base doesn’t identify with a particular faith background. Students come to CAC because they value things like love, encouragement, excellence, and age-appropriate content, says Elliott.

“I’m very honest with everyone who comes in this door that we are not a church and we do not profess to be everyone’s version of Christianity,” says Elliott.

She says the studio has received some flak in the past for allowing a variety of music to be used, as long as it doesn’t contain swear words, drinking, drug or sexual references, and isn’t appropriately aggressive or mature for the age of the students who are dancing to it. Some families believe only praise and worship music is acceptable.

“To that type of person, we are a huge disappointment as an organization because we don’t fit into their box of Christianity,” Elliott says.

She says although those working at the studio believe both that music is powerful and that they need to be careful in the messages they expose students to, they don’t choose to draw a line at secular music.

“It’s a tricky line to walk as an organization. On the one hand we have families who feel we are not ‘Christian enough’ and on the other families who would never come back because we prayed before the start of a performance and they were offended.”

“We make no apologies for the fact that Creator’s was founded on Christian principles and I make no apologies myself for being a Christian woman—I just walk out my faith the best I can in this place and in the rest of my life.”

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