By Stella Prather, Arkansas Baptist News

Her back to the standing-room-only audience, Colleen Klein raises her hands in worship. Spontaneously following the ballet dancer, a group of school-age young girls near the stage reach their arms up and out, stretching their hands toward heaven.

Klein has led the audience in worshipping the One who brings “hope in the midst of suffering” during a Sept. 20 performance of the “Hiding Place” by Ballet Magnificat!, at the Summit Church of North Little Rock. The free event, sponsored by the Arnold Family (www.arnoldfamilyfoundation.org), drew more than 1,110 attendees.

America’s premier Christian Ballet company, Ballet Magnificat!, is an arts organization dedicated to presenting the good news of Jesus Christ to the whole world. Two professional touring companies perform nationally and internationally, ministering to audiences in the United States as well as Canada, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Greece, Singapore, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.

While in Little Rock, the Jackson, Miss.,-based group’s Omega company captivated the audience with their portrayal of the life of Corrie ten Boom. Boom was a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II.

Set in the war zone of Dutch Haarlem in 1944, Hiding Place, adapted for the stage, taps into the struggle of two sisters, Corrie and Betsie ten Boom, as they search for possibilities to help their life-long Jewish neighbors and friends find sanctuary in a small hidden room built in the wall of their home, only to be discovered and transported to the infamous concentration and labor camp of Ravensbrück.

At Ravensbrück, the sisters, through dance, share the only thing that cannot be taken away – their faith. This was in spite of the camp’s unbearable conditions and torture by guards, led by their ringleader Fraulein. Known as “the Snake,” Fraulein was portrayed by Klein.

One scene finds the sisters reading from a hidden Bible to fellow prisoners. They boldly proclaim that in Christ there are no outcasts or orphans, accompanied by background music featuring Avalon’s hit song “Orphans of God.” Many women became Christians because of Corrie and Betsie’s witness to them.

A later scene includes Betsie’s interrogation and merciless killing at the hands of “the Snake.” Ending the scene, Betsie, dressed in white, finds herself dancing in the presence of her Heavenly Father.

The wars ends and many years pass when Corrie comes face to face with Fraulein at a conference. With God’s strength, she extends her arms to embrace her former enemy. This act of love results in Fraulein surrendering her life to Christ and worshipping the Lord.

Following their performance, which drew a standing ovation and rounds of applause, the tour director Erin Beaver shared the plan of salvation. She invited the audience to learn more about Jesus or to receive prayer support from the dancers who lined the stage.

“There are few stories that are as powerful and important to hear as the story of forgiveness against the backdrop of the Holocaust,” shared Bill Elliff, Summit’s directional pastor. “Corrie ten Boom’s testimony has always ministered to me.”

Noting his misgivings, prior to the performance, about the company’s ability to portray the story through dance, Elliff said, “But it happened in an incredible way. The excellence of their art, the power of the music and the heart of the performers all told the story with passion and clarity.

“The most impressive thing, though, was talking with the ballerinas and discovering their deep desire for God’s glory and for the gospel to be clearly communicated,” added Elliff.

Guy Lyons, a member of the Summit, noted that it was an “amazing story, amazing talent, a foreshadow of what the angels must dance like!”

 As sponsor of the performance, Curtis Arnold, a member of Summit and executive director of the Arnold Family Foundation, said one goal of bringing the ballet to his home church was to attract non-believers.
Noting that many will never step foot into a church service, but he said, will attend a professional production. He has since learned of many unchurched that attended the event, including at least one Muslim and another Jewish area resident.

“This group is very well known among the dance community,” said Arnold, adding that he attributes this reputation to the large, unexpected crowd. “I was honestly, really expecting a couple of hundred people tops. … Oh me of little faith.”

Calling the production “captivating,” Arnold said, “The response … of those kids when they started mimicking the dancer and then others joined was truly worshipful … God really showed up.”

Attendee Shannon Williams said the group captured the true meaning of forgiveness and worship. “The children worshipping our Lord in movement” was a “beautiful sight,” she said. “One day we will all stand before the Lord glorifying Him. We are forgiven, ... whether you are a child, a prisoner or a Nazi.”

Ballet Magnificat! was founded in 1986 by Kathy Thibodeaux, who stepped into the spotlight of the international ballet community in 1982 when, dancing to Sandi Patty’s “We Shall Behold Him,” she won a silver medal. Her husband Keith, now executive director of Ballet Magnificat!, portrayed “Little Ricky Ricardo” in the now classic “I Love Lucy Show” and had various acting stints on television, including “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Route 66,” “The Shirley Temple Playhouse” and “Hazel.”

Ballet Magnificat!’s dedication to the art and discipline of dance is paramount, but the dancers’ commitment to ministry comes first, according the group’s Web site, www.balletmagnificat.com. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ, prayer and accountability to a local body of believers is the foundation for each of the dancer’s public ministry. Their humble desire is to honor God with their talents and minister to their audiences

In addition to the two touring companies, Ballet Magnificat! also offers a professional training program for students ages 18-24, a summer dance intensive and teacher’s workshop for students ages 11-24 and teachers over 18 and a praise and worship workshop. 

For information on Ballet Magnificat!, a non-profit, full-time faith ministry and its various programs or to schedule them at your church, visit www.balletmagnificat.com.