Bluebird Uncaged

Meet the 2014 Panama team: Daley Kappenman

June 11, 2014 bluebirduncaged

Originally from Alabama, Daley Kappenman is a recent graduate of University of Missouri, Kansas City and is headed to Atlanta next year to start her professional career. Known as Silencer for her quiet demeanor, she's an expert selfie taker and adds a calming strength to the team. Daley danced with Bluebird in the Passion 2014 opener and this is her second adventure. Follow her on instagram @day_lilies

Q. What is your favorite DQ blizzard flavor?
A. Cookie Jar (Oreos and cookie dough)! Its not on the menu, but if you ask for it they'll know what you mean.

Q. Why do you dance?
A. I started dancing because I simply loved it. I still love to dance, but I think have stuck with it because I have seen what a powerful force it is. It speaks to people in a very different way, and can reach those who would otherwise turn away.

My favorite dance memory is of performing my senior solo, "From now on", chorographed by my friend Molly Wagner Gregory. All I wanted when I was on stage was to "give it away". I gave the dance to God as an offering of praise and thanks for giving me a passion for dance and a calling to use it for his glorification. And I gave it to my family as a thank you for all their support and encouragement through the years of pursuing that passion, and now that calling.

Q. If you were a super hero, what would your power be?

A. flight. I've been traveling a lot lately and it would be great to be able to just jet from place to place… or just dance in the clouds!

Q. What advice do you have for younger dancers?

A. First, be yourself. There is no one else like you, and you have something beautiful and unique to offer. As a dancer, sometimes this can be the hardest lesson to learn and remember. Second, be a sponge. Absorb every correction you hear and watch your peers and older dancers as they work on steps, and give them a try yourself. Some corrections might not work for you, but who knows, one day it might be the thing that makes everything click!

white umbrella

what makes hearts dance

June 9, 2014 bluebirduncaged

The little girl, not yet three years-old-was all dressed up in her taffeta and mary janes. It was Christmas. Though the little girl was giddy with excitement, her mother wondered if a night at the Nutcracker ballet was appropriate at this age. Tchaikovsky’s overture began and the little girl was enraptured for the next 90 minutes. During curtain call, she whispered in her mother’s ear “I want to be her” and pointed to the stage.

Every girl deserves the chance to dance; to pursue her passion, to live freely and fully alive. For some, that may mean designing furniture, running a business, or baking cakes, repairing ACLs, teaching kids to read, you name it.

But not every girl gets the chance to dance. Bondage is real. For some, hope seems so far away and it’s all they can do to make it to the next sunrise. This is the reality for victims of exploitation. It’s also the reality of a heart without Jesus.

Whether through stealing the innocence of more than 100,000 children involved in prostitution in the US, or whispering insecurity into the hearts of others, the darkness would convince us that we and our dreams do not matter.

But there is hope. There is freedom. Every girl is endowed with the dignity that comes from being made in the image of God. And that’s a reason to dance!

May 24, 2014

Today, the little girl in the mary janes dreams of more than tutus and tiaras; she dreams of bringing hope and dignity through dance. Bluebird: uncaged is a collective of professional dancers dedicated to using art for the greater good.

Our most recent project was inspired by Mary Frances Bowley’s book, The White Umbrella. Set against a backdrop of cinematography by Caleb Diaddigo to original music by Todd Locke, this choreographic story premiered in October at Dance Upon Injustice 2013.

We believe this was just the beginning. Bluebird: uncaged wants to share the story of Wellspring Living and White Umbrella with a broader audience through an online video trilogy. We’ve launched an indiegogo campaign to fund this project. Use of the finished product as well as anything over our goal will be donated to Wellspring Living.

It’s about more than taking White Umbrella from the stage to the screen. It’s about restoring dignity. Bringing hope. Proclaiming freedom. Teaching hearts to dance.

As much as White Umbrella is a story of a trafficking survivor, it’s also our story. The story of a heart that was dead and is now alive. A story of hope and the freedom that comes in Jesus. The story of redemption. Because everyone deserves the chance to dance.

*This post was originally published on the Wellspring Living blog.

dancers

Meet the 2014 Panama team: Rebekah Diaddigo

June 5, 2014 bluebirduncaged

Originally from Ball Ground, GA, Rebekah Diaddigo is a dancer with the Proia Dance Project and teacher in the metro Atlanta area. When she’s not dancing she enjoys spending time with her family, blogging, and hand embroidery. Follow her on twitter and instagram: @rebekahdiaddigo

Photo: Mary Caroline Russell

Q.Why do you dance?
A. I dance because I believe it is what I was put on this Earth to do. Dance can go places words can’t and I want to use it to invite people into the Jesus story.

Q. What's your favorite DQ blizzard flavor?
A. Chocolate Extreme!

Q. What has been your favorite role so far?
A. One of my favorite roles was Clara in the Nutcracker. I also enjoyed premiering Alexandre Proia’s Four Seasons as a faun. My partner and I represented hope throughout the ballet and the choreography was a blast.

Alexandre Proia's Four Seasons. Photo: Scott Nilsson

Q. What advice do you have for younger dancers?
A. be confident in your identity. Dance is what you do, it’s not who you are. You are a beloved princess of the King of Kings; your future and dreams lie in His hands (not those of any director). Let Jesus be your rock, pursue excellence from a heart of grateful worship, and everything else will fall into place.

"I am completely in awe of God bringing these dreams together into one and orchestrating all of the circumstances to prove His sovereignty and faithfulness. Super stoked for this adventure"

white umbrella

indiegogo update

June 4, 2014 bluebirduncaged

We've reached quadruple digits! Huge thank you to all of our contributors. We've still got a long ways to go. Will you help us by spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc? Feel free to snag any of these graphics.

Something we've been praying over this project:

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. ~Isaiah 9:2

Will you join us in this prayer?

workshops

Summer intensive tips Pt. 3

June 3, 2014 bluebirduncaged

Congratulations on surviving audition season and deciding on where to spend your summer training! Whether it’s your first intensive or fiftieth, here are a few things we wish we had known before we went away for the summer. Know that we're cheering you on and praying for you. As always, if you have any questions or thing you might want to add to the list, feel free to drop us a line here!

write your name in ALL items you would like to return home with. My mom had little name stickers printed for my first summer away and I still put them in my favorite leotards.

Follow the rules–respect your counselors, curfews, room inspections, lights out, hall meetings, etc. These are put in place so that everyone can have a safe, enjoyable, well-organized, fun summer of learning and getting better at dancing. Even if you’ll be 18 the day after the program ends respect the boundaries put in place for minors. It’s not worth being sent home for a stupid choice outside of the studio.

If you’re interested in staying year-round, let someone know. This starts to develop a relationship and allows the leadership to assess you more closely.

Have fun! Choose to have fun. Even if you were put in a level you think is way below you, you hate your roommate, there’s no air conditioning, character class is 3 times a week and partnering only every other, the food is gross, outings are lame, and you have to wear a pea green leotard, remember you’re there for a reason. You can learn from any circumstance. Choose to make the best of it.

You, my dear young artists, are the future. May you soak up this time of learning with eagerness and teachability. May you seek to encourage your fellow dancers and hone your artistry with a genuineness that speaks louder than words. In the mundaneness of every tendu, may you hone your craft with excellence. Most of all we pray Jesus shines brightly through you as He clarifies dreams and draws hearts to Himself.