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CORE OF FIRE
Core of Fire is an interfaith dance ministry of mature women, who use the healing power of dance to combine spiritual connection and creative movement into choreography that speaks to one’s deepest longings to express the awe, wonder and anguish of the life experience. This unique ministry further seeks to provide opportunities for all women, no matter their age, shape or training, to release their inner dancer, and to experience the exhilaration that comes when we abandon ourselves to the joy of movement.
Where the choreography comes from…
Dr. Carol Penn is the main choreographer. She trained as a professional dance artist with the world famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and is an award winning choreographer for her work with her Washington, D.C. based company Pennvisions and the New Visions Dance Theater. Dr. Penn has now completed her life long dream of becoming a medical doctor. She adapts the choreography around some physical limitations and focuses on good alignment and core strength. She is committed to women being physically strong. It's not just about the dance, it's about how you feel for the rest of the day. Although Penn is the primary choreographer, frequently the women create improvisations that the group teases into performance material.
The original dance that the group did together, named Core of Fire, came from Carol’s co-choreographer during her DC years, Marcia Freeman, MA. Marcia is a Washington, DC-based independent dancer, teacher, choreographer, bodyworker (Alexander Technique and Normal Function), and dramatic sign language interpreter. She initiated the dance program at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and produced its annual dance concert for many years. Marcia has performed with Open Circle Theatre Company, the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, and the Erika Thimey Dance Group. Marcia teaches dance classes and offers private and small group sessions in bodywork at the New Joe's Movement Emporium in Mt. Rainier, Maryland. She has choreographed 4 of the 14 songs in Core of Fire’s repertoire, and contributed dramatic sign language interpretations for others.
Though the name Core of Fire was for the original dance, the group adapted it for their ministry from their cojoined experience of life and passion. They have formed a fellowship. They meet weekly. It is a huge commitment. They made the decision to keep the size of the Core limited, and yet they know that women want to dance, women want community.
How others can dance with Core of Fire…..
Core of Fire offers afternoon, Saturday or Saturday and Sunday workshops several times a year, and lets others participate in learning a dance and participating in improvisational choreography. Watch for upcoming dates….
What people are saying about Core of Fire…
"Who says there is no love left in the world anymore? Your group, in all you have done, have shown that there is plenty of it."
A local NJ poet wrote this after seeing Core of Fire:
Images of God
You are the warmth of the fire of God's love
You are the flowing water of God's peace
You are the spoken word of God's healing Son
You are the breath of God's Spirit
God's love is visible in your love for one another
God peace is visible in your serenity
God's healing is visible in your life stories
God's Spirit is visible in your every move
You are prayer and praise to God in motion
You are the very images of God
~Gloria Ziemienski
Where Core of Fire performs….
Core of Fire has performed in churches, congregations, religious meetings,
cancer survivor meetings,
911 families survivors services….
February 14 2010 Core of Fire Performance >
Where Core of Fire can be seen online….
How Core of Fire can come to your location…
Please eMail us