Director's Biography 
...Photo by: Anna C.
Updated 9-06
Background: Joan O'Connell has been ministering through dance since the
early 1970's. She was first introduced to movement as expression when she
took a modern dance class, fulfilling a college physical education
requirement. Already a musician, she quickly took to the art form,
working a full course of dance study into her concentration program in
"Fine Arts and Communication". Modern dance, ballet, jazz,
African, Israeli and other international folk dances, dance history, production
and composition were among her classes. After graduation, she had the
opportunity to lead the dancers in The Lighthouse, a Christian performing
company based in Ann Arbor, Mi. In subsequent years, she has continued
her education and outreach through national workshops and seminars.
Marriage, children, and times of cleansing
through two prolonged illnesses brought Joan to a point of readiness to launch
a ministry in 1994: the Christian Dance Network. As director of CDN,
Mrs. O'Connell enjoys the full range of dance experiences, from teaching
and choreography for the CDN repertory
group, to email "coaching" for those outside her geographical area. In
2001, CDN received a grant with which we created an “intro to worship dance”
video/ DVD: “King of My Heart.”
See Home page for more info.
CDN events typically attract participants from many denominations and cultural expressions, coming together to share the things the Lord has done with them and to learn from each other.
Joan loves to dance
for the Lord and to help others come into the freedom the Lord offers. He
accepts us just the way we are-- with whatever training or gifts we have or
don't have, offered to Him as worship, "in spirit and in truth."
In 2006-2007, as the Lord seems to have indicated
this will be a “sabbatical year” for the time-consuming, wonderful Winter
Concert, we watch and listen and wait for what else He might be doing with and
through the Christian Dance Network.
Perhaps it will be
an opportunity to lead congregations in movement, as they seek to worship our
great God with their ‘whole heart, mind and strength.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!!
CDN’s Director in context: O’C family 2006
[Missing ~ Eldest son John, Oct 3, 1980-April 23,
2001]
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