The Jubilee Troupe

Weaving Worship at the Brethren Western Regional Youth Conference

In the Jubilee Troupe's fourth event, members Gloria Newton, Christina Cruz and Chris Fitz worked with youth from the conference in contributions to the daily worship services of the Western Regional Youth Conference of the Church of the Brethren, August 4-8, 2004. Playing with now-familiar forms of Playback Theater alongside new pieces of movement and drama with poetry, drawing and scripture, the expanded Troupe wound through the week with consistently powerful expressions. The following images hint at the great diversity of these contributions, everything from dance, to theater to performance art, to list a few inadequate words.

The opening night performance piece contribution to weaving worship, a dramatic meditation on Luke 4 with paper and hand painting.

"The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has annointed me to preach good news to the poor..."

"...release to the captives."

"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Later, to bring the scripture "closer to home," youth would be invited to add their own handprints in paint.

And the conference continued with themes around living out faith, trusting God and living in diverse communities. One of the most powerful pieces that the Jubilee Troupe contributed revolved around the theme of the "upside down kingdom" and the radically different world that Jesus called his disciples to live out. We called this piece upside down dance.

Amidst some strong mechanized music, Christina begins the dance while Chris and Gloria enter opposite each other.

Chris and Gloria walk to opposite ends of the space and Chris begins drawing...some...thing.

Christina dances while both Chris and Gloria apply their markers at either end.

Gloria finishes writing - from the bottom up. Chris finishes. They stare at each other. Christina is frozen. The audience stares - frozen.

The dance ends...or does it?