Bellivas Youth Explosion
When: Registration 5 p.m. Friday, July 31, and 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. Workshops 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Performances 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Middletown Community Center, 800 Lafayette Ave.
Cost: $10 for workshops, $5 for performances
MIDDLETOWN — The dance/mime conference held in 2008 by the Middletown group Bellivas went so well, it’s bringing it back for a second year — and back to God’s business.
The second annual Youth Explosion, themed Back to God’s Business, will teach local kids the art of dance and miming this weekend.
Registration will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 31, and 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.
The workshops, which provide the instruction, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with a $10 registration free.
Then, people who attend the workshops will get to demonstrate their new skills right away, from 5 to 7 p.m. that same evening.
Those attending performances will pay $5 at the door.
All events are to be held in the Middletown Community Center, 800 Lafayette Ave.
Last year’s events attracted more than 70 children, said Stacy Bellard, the leader of the group.
“We’ll be doing a lot of the same things like praise dance, gospel and hip-hop dance,” she said, adding that a vocal class will be new this year.
“We got a really good response, and that made us want to do it again. A lot of people are wanting to be in the Bellivas,” said Stacia Bellard, Stacy’s 18-year-old daughter.
Going Back to God’s business refers to “how any style of dance can do that as long as it’s for God,” Stacia Bellard said.
There also will be a gospel talent showcase that evening with a $100 prize for the winner. The winner will go on to perform in one of the “Sunday Night Live” events at United Missionary Baptist Church, Stacia Bellard said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.
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