It is with great pleasure that we welcome you as an audience for this year’s spring production “The Promise.” We strive to have performances which glorify God as well as an event where our dancers can experience the fun and excitement of performing while using the gift of dance to honor Jesus Christ.
You may already know the story of Joshua, the defeat of the city of Jericho and the rescue of Rahab. Hopefully you’ll be struck with many of the thoughts we had while creating this ballet. We hope you will be reminded that God is always there and He is ready to remind us to be strong and courageous because of his presence in our life.
Our story opens in the desert, where the Israelites are eager to enter the land that God has promised. Moses reminds Joselyn of God’s care for them. Joselyn and Cabella send two spies to the town of Jericho, which must be overcome before they can enter the land.
Jericho is not a friendly place. Both the Sheriff and her deputies and Eliza the Saloon keeper and Mrs. Lorraine with her Can Can dancers prey on all visitors to the town. Two groups arrive: a traveling rodeo with the head honcho in charge and a medicine woman and her helpers who sell bottles of cure-all to the deputies. Despite enjoying the entertainment and benefiting from the cure-all medicine, the residents of Jericho enact their usual plan to serve a “special drink” to the visitors in order to rob them, eventually giving them the choice to join in the evil or go to jail.
Word of what God has done for the Israelites does reach some in Jericho, particularly Rahab, who prays to God for help. Rahab has been forced to join the Can Can dancers after her father is sent to jail for drunkenness. When she discovers the spies sent to Jericho by Joselyn, she protects them, hiding them in her room from the Sheriff. They make a promise over a red cord to protect her once the city is taken.
The spies return to Joselyn, who now must somehow cross the Jordan river, which is in flood and normally uncrossable. God blocks the waters of the river and the people cross through, retrieving stones from the river to serve as a reminder of God’s promises and care. They celebrate Passover in the new land for the first time.
Word of the impossible river crossing reaches Jericho who begin to panic and nail the gates shut. Joselyn comes to see the town for herself and is met by the Commander of the Armies of the Lord, who declares that she is on holy ground. God gives Joselyn instructions on how to proceed with conquering Jericho.
God fulfilled his promise to his people and rescued Rahab, just as he rescues those who are lost today and cares for his people.
Who else commands all the hosts of heaven
Who else could make every king bow down
Who else can whisper and darkness trembles
Only a Holy God
What other beauty demands such praises
What other splendour outshines the sun
What other majesty rules with justice
Only a Holy God
Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out, sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God