The Company
Dancing by the Power Movement Matters Company shares dance beyond the four walls, in churches and synagogues, community centers & schools, theaters & performance halls. The Company travels nationally and has most recently presented works at the Atlas Theater (DC), The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (MD), Edenton Street United Methodist Church (NC), the Harman Center (DC), the Publick Playhouse (MD) and The Sylvan Theater (DC ).COMPANY MEMBER
Candace Ali has been dancing since the age of 11. She studied jazz, modern, and ballet throughout middle school and high school. She has ministered with One Desire, the youth dance ministry at Ebenezer N.T. Church of God from 2002 – 2006. She has been a member of DPM since 2007, and serves wholeheartedly with the talent she has been given. She will graduate from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Hearing and Speech Sciences. In fall 2011, she will begin her graduate studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore working towards an M.A. in Social Work.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Ronya-Lee LaVaune Anderson-Thompson holds a Master’s of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. She also holds a B.A. in Dance and a B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Maryland at College Park. A former member of the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, and guest artist with Dance for All Youth Company in Capetown, South Africa, Ronya-Lee has traveled extensively teaching, dancing, and choreographing. She has performed lead roles in productions at the Arena Stage, Ford’s Theater, the National Theater, the Kennedy Center, and Dance Place. Her choreography has been presented at the Publick Playhouse, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, THEARC and in churches throughout the United States, South Africa and Ecuador. She conducts workshops annually throughout the United States and has also created sacred dance curriculum for various ministries and organizations. Ronya-Lee is Artistic Director for Dancing by the Power Ministries, a non-profit sacred dance organization. She currently serves as Director of Sacred Arts Ministry at Plymouth Congregation UCC in Washington DC. Every summer since 2006, Ronya-Lee has led seminars on the art of sacred dance for the Duke Youth Academy in Durham, North Carolina. She is an adjunct artist with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. She also dances with Carla Perlo’s Carla and Company.
COMPANY MEMBER
Joyce Bidi was born in Kaduna State, Nigeria, and came to the United States as a child. She grew up in the D.C Metropolitan area along with her brother and two sisters. Although Joyce always enjoyed dancing and acting as a young girl, she never had the courage or finances to seek out formal training. However, Joyce had the opportunity to explore her gift for dance upon entering college at the University of Maryland. Later, she served as the assistant dance leader of the Church of the Living God Dnace Ministry for 7 years. She received further training at Dance Place as well as Joy of Motion Studios in D.C. She combines her love for the arts, teaching and children in her work as a fourth grade teacher and Drama Club Director. She was recently featured in the Laurel Gazette for having received her National Board Certification, the “highest honor in the teaching profession.”
INTERN
Lysandra Blevins is originally from Richmond, VA; she has been dancing since the age of 2. Her first experience with dance was in worshipping God through movement. Glory Dance ministries’ Directors Cami and Derek Capps have inspired her to continue worshipping through dance, and for that Lysandra is truly grateful. With extensive training in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip-hop, Lysandra also studied Flamenco with Ms. Josi von Strasnicsak. She graduated from Grace College of Divinity’s School of Worship (Dance) in the June of 2008, and has been teaching dance for five years. Performance credits include: GCD’s Dance Company, RUSH Dance team (Co-captain), RUSH Tour (Costa Rica, 2007 & 2008), High School Musical Onstage (Ensemble), Fiddler on the Roof (Asst. Choreographer), and performances at Sarah Goebel Ministries’ Women’s Conferences (March 2008, 2009). Most recently, she has enjoyed pioneering a dance & conditioning program for homeschool students at Fort Bragg, NC as owner and instructor in a small business, Thrive! Educational Program. Lysandra would like to thank her family for all of their love and support. Soli Deo Gloria.
COMPANY MEMBER
Simone Henry-Price has been involved in sacred dance for 15 years. For 10 years she served as Director of Dance at Berean Church of Washington DC. She holds a BA in English: Language and Literature from the University of Maryland at College Park. A wife and mother of three she has become a jack of all trades, taking on the extraordinary task of homeschooling. One spring she took Ronya’s class and enjoyed it so much that she could not stay away. Simone is grateful to her family, especially her husband, who makes it possible for her to be a part of this company.
COMPANY MEMBER
Ellen V. Rice is an anointed dancer who uses her heart, mind, body and spirit on one accord to give God her full body Praise & Worship! She is a passionate dancer with over 22 years experience in performing contemporary, ballet, jazz, tap, and modern techniques. Ellen began her formal ballet training at The Metropolitan Ballet of Minneapolis in St. Paul, Minnesota and got her first professional role with them at age nine in the Nutcracker. After moving from Minnesota to Northern Virginia, Ellen continued her pre-professional ballet and modern training at the Arlington Center for Ballet. While in college, Ellen was member and Secretary of Hampton University’s Terpsichorean Dance Company from 2002-2005. As a company member, she traveled and performed various works, taught master dance classes, and provided dance lessons to inner city children and youth. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Hampton University in 2005. After graduating, Ellen continued to teach jazz and contemporary dance at Worldgate Dance Studio in Reston, VA. Ellen currently choreographs and teaches liturgical works at her church, Shiloh Baptist of Alexandria.
COMPANY MEMBER
Angela Royster is originally from Philadelphia, PA. She moved to Maryland when she was recruited as a track athlete to Mount Saint Mary’s University. While in college, Angela’s love of music and dance encouraged her to be a member and co-president of the Social Dance Team, MSMU Dancers for Christ, and MSMU Gospel Choir for 4 years. She graduated from the Mount in 2007 with a major in Elementary Education. Angela went on to teach students ranging from preschool-aged to 6th grade. In 2010, Angela received her Masters of Art in Special Education from the University of Maryland. After graduating, she began teaching children with special needs. Angela truly believes the Lord led her to the DPM Company. She has never felt so close to God and is honored to have found a new family within the company.
