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Praise Academy

"Changing Mindsets through Movement"
Choreographer and designer Marcia Weekes of the Christian group, Praise Academy Of Dance Barbados

Praise Academy of Dance Barbados began in 2003; it is an affiliate of Praise Academy of Dance Jamaica which was established by C. Patricia Noble in 1993.

Choreographer and designer Marcia Weekes of the Christian group, Praise Academy Of Dance Barbados.

This inter-denominational, non-profit company, headed by Artistic Director Marcia Weekes, has a roll of 185+ students and a 7 member staff.

Some seen here with Heidi Baker click to enlarge.

Marcia Weekes with her team at Praise Academy

Praise Academy of Dance is a non-profit company which is administrated by a Board of Directors.

This Christian school brings a message of hope, encouragement and empowerment to their audiences while promoting culture and the arts. They have achieved many awards from the Barbados National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA).
These include a Gold award in 2003, the award for most promising piece 2003, one Silver and one Bronze award in 2004 and in 2005 they were the only group in the festival awarded with Gold. They also won two Flame Awards for Dance Group of the Year 2004 and 2005 and now 2006!
Praise Academy Some here Marcia and Dave Weekes son Dan-Jamal performing for Heidi Baker and the team from Catch The Wave.

The mission of Praise Academy, as we present the Gospel of Christ through Dance, is:


"Changing Mindsets through Movement"

Seen here with Sammi Jane at a music video shoot

Seen here with Sammi Jane at a music video shoot


Marcia was ordained as a minister in October 2001. She, having been a dancer herself and further having danced with Harlem Tabernacle Dance Ministries in New York, U.S.A., has pioneered the start of several dance ministries in Jamaica and New York.


Marcia and Dave on either side of Heidi Baker Marcia is also the Director and Co-coordinator with her husband Dave, (right) of Taking It To The Streets Ministries (TITTS) which is an evangelistic ministry which has pioneered missions to Jamaica, Barbados, Montserrat, Curacao and New York. In addition, she co-coordinated arts conferences in Puerto Rico and Jamaica International Christian Dance Fellowship.


In 2002, Marcia initiated the start of the Gospelfest Dancers, and thereafter was requested of the board of Praise Academy (Jamaica) to pioneer the start of Praise Academy of Dance (Barbados)

Upcoming Events
Kingdom Arts International Arts Symposium

Extracts from the Nation News

Choreographer and designer Marcia Weekes of the Christian group, Praise Academy Of Dance Barbados, pointed to the NCF's developmental work beyond wuk-up and revelry, stating that NIFCA had provided her group with critical feedback and ideas.

These, she said, had led to the formulation of their multi-media production, Speak Life, which was currently touring.

"We can testify to the NCF not being only about wuk-up culture, because NIFCA has been a great stage from which to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ," she added.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Reverend Joseph Atherley, said though one had to be concerned about the prevalence of "wuk-up", there was much more involved in local culture such as the sterling efforts of some NCF staff, who were dedicated and took pleasure in their work.

Email Marcia: marcia@praiseacademyofdance.org

 
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